Keepsake objects of beauty and jewellery created by makers who explore exciting and innovative materials and making techniques.  The show highlights paperwork, ceramics, silver, mixed media and found objects resulting in a vibrant display of work by some of the most inspiring craftspeople in the UK today.

Image:Iris De La Torre

In the Spotlight 2020

7th November 2020 - 19th June 2021

Deborah Beck

Deborah has created a collection inspired by the impact of human activity on the planet in recycled single-use plastics and silver.

For the past year or so, on each of Deborah’s daily dog walks along the river she has been collecting plastic litter - mostly single-use plastic bottles and bottle tops. With research and experimentation Deborah has recycled this waste into a repurposed raw material. Each piece has then been cut, shaped and filed and set within metal structures which are directly influenced by the straight lines of human industries.

Iris De La Torre

Iris De La Torre designs colourful and playful graphics which are transformed into jewellery, accessories and objects. Her work is inspired by Mexican Folk Arts and Crafts and the magic of 1960s graphic design. Iris’s jewellery is mainly constructed from Perspex; a recyclable material. All pieces are assembled by hand in her Surrey studio with materials sourced, laser cut and digitally printed by suppliers in the United Kingdom.

Florence Makes

A purveyor of curious commodities.

Florence Hoy is the designer/maker behind Florence Makes and is currently based in Leeds. Florence was originally trained in ceramics but found more joy in creating the paper test pieces prior to crafting the vessel. As a result, she now works primarily with found papers.

Florence is currently exploring the theme of repetition in the curious commodities collection. The potential that repetition can bestow on an item is fascinating; the most rudimentary of objects can evolve into something grandiose, something which far exceeds its previous status. It transforms the insignificant and overlooked. Whilst each piece created is unique, an intermittent sense of familiarity is apparent throughout the collection.

Alysa Freeman

Alysa Freeman is a mixed media jewellery maker living and working in Exeter, Devon. Alysa’s work centres around the idea of transmuting an unwanted material into something with unique aesthetic integrity. Through a technique of rolling and compressing she has created a new useable material as the bases for her jewellery. She then manipulates the surface by working into the paper stacks and revealing the ink print left behind. The use of text has been a recurring theme in her work for more than 15 years.

Selwyn House

Selwyn House is formed by Sean Best and Ellie Smalls, who met studying Fine Art at Leeds Arts University.

Always drawn to making things, Sean bought a second-hand lathe and began teaching himself woodturning. An all-consuming obsession for understanding and working with wood followed, and after making the move back to Ellie’s home county of Derbyshire in 2017, they formed Selwyn House, combining their creative talents to create small-batch handmade serve-ware & homeware from the best British-grown timbers they could get their hands on.