On a wet, autumnal afternoon in October, we sheltered from the rain at the lovely Handmade at Kew Gardens. In its second year there, the event showcased the work of over 200 contemporary designer-makers working across all disciplines. We chatted to a number of exhibitors and learned how they make their crafts – from different glazes on ceramic bowls, to inspiration taken from the Glasshouses at Kew for hand-painted jewellery.
Perhaps my favourite was the extraordinary work of Holy Smoke – a beautiful collection of soulful looking dogs made from layered scraps of materials and a neutral colour palette. As their website says ‘Imperfections illustrate the human hand through an emotive process in an attempt to represent the unique spirit, fragility and character of the animals in their diverse forms and circumstances’.
