Category: News

Vanessa Swann, Non-Executive Director, London Craft Week and Chief Executive, Cockpit Arts

I was overjoyed to witness Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of Loewe, present the Award for Outstanding Creativity and Craftsmanship to ceramic artist Alison Britton at the London Craft Week Opening Party last Wednesday.  Jonathan said that for him Alison signified the best of craft in this country for creative and poetic expression combined with craft skill.  How true. His words reminded me how the designing and making of haute couture is often as visionary as any art form, and that the contemporary craft world has its own visionaries, like Alison, who break new territory and influence others, in both creative and commercial terms.  This is the oft forgotten role of the independent makers working in the UK today; the micro craft businesses and skilled craft practitioners who make up the thousands of creative freelancers supporting the growth of the luxury goods, craft, fashion, gift, interior and architectural markets. These are the ultimate heroes of our growing creative economy. So a true highlight for me of London Craft Week 2016 was that Alison won her first ever Award in her long career.  She was part of the radical group of RCA graduates in the early 1970s whose work laid the foundations for what became known as ‘The New Ceramics’. Working from a London studio she also writes and curates. Her work is in numerous private and public collections including the V&A and she is represented by the Marsden Woo Gallery, where you can see her work from 18 May to 11 June.  Do go and see what Jonathan was talking about.

We do hope you enjoyed London Craft Week 2016 and we are pleased to announce that London Craft Week 2017 will run from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 May 2017. We look forward to developing the programme to include even more international content, independent makers and artists, galleries and studios, luxury and fashion, with makers the heroes and their processes and skills on show.

Did you attend an event for London Craft Week 2016? Then we need your feedback to help develop London Craft Week 2017. Simply fill in the online survey here and you will be entered into a prize draw to win two bottles of Ridgeview Sparkling wine.

Many thanks and goodluck

It was hard enough to do my LCW Highlights last year with 70 events, so seriously tough this time round with twice as many (even relying on my trusty Condor to get me round as speedily as possible).  But also how to select from so many super-talented makers doing remarkable things in special places?   But choose I must, so here goes…

Opening the unassuming door of Carl Hansen’s high-ceilinged Clerkenwell space was a great start to my LCW.  Not only was I able to meet the remarkable Karen and Mario of Mourne Textiles but got to see Karen weaving on one of their 100 year-old looms making a fabric originally designed for Robin Day’s Gatwick chairs.  What was also so special was to see how their collaboration with Carl Hansen has resulted in a stunning recreation of a Wegner chair upholstered with their new Donegal fabric.

Julian Stair’s History of the 20th Century Pot was an intellectual, aesthetic and emotional tour-de-force made all the more special by being able to handle his very personal selection from the V&A ceramics collection.  I think its fair to say those of us lucky enough to have been included in this intimate session felt enormously privileged and moved.  I certainly will never look at a Ming or Song Dynasty jar in quite the same way again – to say nothing of a Bernard Leach..

Being hosted by Tim Gosling in his eighteenth century Clapham home, which has gone full circle from gentlemen’s country villa back to much cherished and restored residence of the ultimate gentleman-designer, via a spell as a Victorian laundry (albeit one that kept Queen Victoria’s bloomers pristine), is a rare treat.  Made all the more so during the event he gave for a lucky few LCW fans by the presence of Gavin Rookledge, whose ability to create magic with vellum reminded us of why for thousands of years it has been so treasured.

I’m lucky enough to have been invited to Sarah Griffin’s home a few times now.  But seeing her collection up close remains very special indeed.  Made all the more so during LCW by her invitation to a selection of the most talented RCA students to show their work.  I’m afraid I couldn’t resist buying a couple of pieces.  I strongly urge you all to attend the Ceramics & Glass graduation show in June.

Flow Gallery is a gem.  And Akiko Hirai’s work inspirational.  I made the fatal mistake of falling in love with one of her pots but not buying it straight away – less than 24 hours later and it had been snapped up.

Wang Dongling is not only a great artist he is a gentlemen in the true sense of the word.  Its been a huge honour to have him over from China for LCW this year and seeing him create one of his masterpieces live in the Great Court of the British Museum is something I will never forget.

I thought I knew a reasonable amount about the process of commissioning a bespoke tie, hat, suit and pair of shoes but Simon Crompton’s tour of Drakes, Locks, Lobbs & Rubinacci was a revelation.  Not just to see and meet the modest but amazingly skilled makers who work away behind the scenes but learn the intricacies and subtleties of different processes and materials. Simon is literally a walking encyclopedia – and, needless to say, a very well turned-out one.

Juliet: I started my day at Garrard’s Mayfair flagship store where we viewed their stunning jewellery and tiaras. Upstairs was their workshop where Jessica discussed the different techniques involved whilst we watched makers at work creating tiny, intricate springs for a pair of cufflinks. I found the employment of both modern and traditional methods very interesting; the use of 3D computer aided designs versus the array of manual tools. I wish I could have then stayed longer to try on the tiaras and headdresses but unfortunately could not! Next I went to Soho House and met the makers whose work has been filmed for the series Handmade for BBC Four. It was interesting to hear their opinions about the role of their crafts in today’s world and in the future. The theatre room downstairs was the perfect venue to watch the detailed processes in their work. In the evening I went to Central St Martin’s in Granary Square to hear Ramon Puig Cuyas talk about his jewellery making and the influences behind his beautiful brooches.

London Craft Week, the ‘beyond luxury’ showcase, celebrated the opening of its second edition on Wednesday 4 May at the V&A with many guests from the creative and luxury industries.

Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of LOEWE, awarded Alison Britton OBE RA the first London Craft Week Medal for exceptional craftsmanship & creativity. This medal will be awarded once a year to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to craft and to the arts. Little Halstock created a beautiful Sycamore and book matched burr walnut box which was awarded to Alison Britton last night, Vacheron Constantin will be designing the medal.

Everyone enjoyed an exclusive performance by renowned Chinese big brush calligrapher Professor Wang Dongling as well as viewing work created especially for London Craft Week by Karen Bit Vejle. Professor Wang Dongling’s work was gratefully accepted into the V&A’s Chinese collections by Bill Sherman, the V&A’s Director of Research and Collections.

Guests in attendance at the reception included; Jonathan Anderson (Creative Director LOEWE), Ozwoeld Boating OBE, (fashion designer), David Linley (founder, Linley); Alison Britton (ceramicist), Kate Malone (BBC’s The Great Pottery Throw Down), Junko Mori (artist), alongside representatives from founding partners Vacheron Constantin and sponsors Grosvenor and Mulberry as well as programme partners including museums and galleries, studios and workshops.

The London Craft Week Team Selects

Marieke Syed, Operations: Amazing to walk past Holland and Holland and see QEST makers working in their window. Lots of tourists walking by and then popping in to find out more. Next up was LOEWE to take a quick peek at the installation of Ramon Puig Cuyas’ exhibition. Each box that accompanies his jewellery pieces is hand painted with an image of the work. I was wowed by the gold room at The Dorchester, and the array of wonderful beautiful hats on display by Rachel Trevor Morgan and Edwina Ibbotson but jealous that I couldn’t stay long enough to try some on!

Daphne Vassiliades, Partnerships: Elizabeth Gage is larger than life, with such an exuberant personality. It was a treat to meet her and to hear about her passion for design – plus we got to try on so many of her fabulous pieces. The workshops at Asprey on Bond Street feel like a piece of history tucked away in a busy modern city. Having a sneak peek behind the scenes, meeting the makers and their apprentices and being given a tour of the silver, jewellery and leather workshops was a privilege. It was fascinating to learn about the conversion of technology and artisanship when it comes to cutting and polishing a diamond at Backes & Strauss, and how this will affect the future of the craft. The Taylor Howes interior design practice in Knightsbridge is filled with stunning treasures by talents who blur the lines between architecture, art and design. It was really beautiful to see, and great to meet some of them in person and hear about their inspiration and how they try to balance their own aesthetic with a client commission.

The London Craft Week Team Selects

Marieke Syed, Operations: Amazing to walk past Holland and Holland and see QEST makers working in their window. Lots of tourists walking by and then popping in to find out more. Next up was LOEWE to take a quick peek at the installation of Ramon Puig Cuyas’ exhibition. Each box that accompanies his jewellery pieces is hand painted with an image of the work. I was wowed by the gold room at The Dorchester, and the array of wonderful beautiful hats on display by Rachel Trevor Morgan and Edwina Ibbotson but jealous that I couldn’t stay long enough to try some on!

Daphne Vassiliades, Partnerships: Elizabeth Gage is larger than life, with such an exuberant personality. It was a treat to meet her and to hear about her passion for design – plus we got to try on so many of her fabulous pieces. The workshops at Asprey on Bond Street feel like a piece of history tucked away in a busy modern city. Having a sneak peek behind the scenes, meeting the makers and their apprentices and being given a tour of the silver, jewellery and leather workshops was a privilege. It was fascinating to learn about the conversion of technology and artisanship when it comes to cutting and polishing a diamond at Backes & Strauss, and how this will affect the future of the craft. The Taylor Howes interior design practice in Knightsbridge is filled with stunning treasures by talents who blur the lines between architecture, art and design. It was really beautiful to see, and great to meet some of them in person and hear about their inspiration and how they try to balance their own aesthetic with a client commission.

Highlights from the London Craft Week team:

Tamsin – I enjoyed rediscovering the ceramics galleries on my way to the Wedgwood demonstrations where I watched with interest the mesmerising potters wheel. I then went to Barnard & Westwood where I met experts in their field and learnt how some of the most beautiful logos can be printed in eight layers with eight different plates.

Philippa: First stop was the V&A to see Julian Stair who was laying out and preparing the most extraordinary ancient and modern pots for his inspection session. Next onto Linley for a talk and party with Michael Eden and David Linley. It was fascinating to learn about their use of traditional and innovative skills to design and make classically balanced but cutting edge pieces. The day ended with a dinner at Spring hosted by chef Skye Gyngell. Collectors and experts collected together by Yvonna from Flow Gallery listened to makers Daniel Smith, Billy Lloyd, Cristina Vezzini and Valerina Nascimento talking about their work and enjoyed eating Skye’s amazing food from plates commissioned especially for the event. I hope we can repeat his event next year!