​In October 2014, I was chatting to a few friends in the playground of Muswell Hill Primary School and had an idea. Before an extended career break to raise my two children, my career had been in PR and communications for a leading PR consultancy and then as PR manager for disabled children’s charity Whizz Kidz. With an appetite to use my skills again and finding the playground full of creative parents, I suggested we join forces in some way.

​An initial meeting over coffee at the home of MHFGA committee member and photographer Zoe Norfolk, along with long-term Muswell Hill resident artist Jess Albert, local jewellery designer maker Michele Wyckoff Smith, and then florist Tania McLaren, the idea of a collective was conceived. The aim was to bring local makers together to sell their work, but with me dedicated to event organisation and promotion, it would enable them to focus their energies on what they love doing most – creating. 

Just six weeks after the first meeting, Muswell Hill Creatives held its first Open House on Hillfield Park with a wider group of local artists, designers and makers and was a huge success. A further Open House was held in 2015, before we bravely took ourselves out to St James Square for our first market in 2015.
​
In 2015 I established a membership arrangement for a “dynamic collective of local artists, designers and makers who take pride in quality craftsmanship and promote creativity.”  

It is common for independent artists, designers and makers to work alone in a studio or at home and it can be a lonely existence. Muswell Hill Creatives provides a supportive and sociable community of like-minded individuals with whom to share the ups and downs of running a small business and to help develop and grow their creative enterprise. They benefit from my marketing expertise, but also the shared experiences and expertise of their fellow collective members. 

Over the last 10 years, Muswell Hill Creatives has held 32 markets outside in St James Square, a large-scale exhibition at the Hornsey Town Hall and nine pop up shops including two in East Sussex!  We have supported over 40 artists, designers and makers in their creative endeavours as members of the collective and many more as guests at markets and events.

​In 2022, the Muswell Hill Creatives Make and Mend Festival was introduced as a twice-yearly event, to give local people an opportunity to enjoy learning a range of making and mending skills under the expert guidance of local creatives.  This has proven to be a popular, friendly and fun afternoon of creativity which we plan to continue in 2025.

The collective has had to navigate its way through a pandemic, an increasingly tough economic climate, wild weather and many more challenges along the way, but we’re still standing (just about!). We’re proud to have shone a spotlight on all the amazing creativity in the area over the last 10 years and to have built such a thriving creative community and hope to do so for years to come. 

"I joined Muswell Hill Creatives in 2018 and it has hands down been the best decision I ever made. The sense of support and community has kept me going and I feel that I am much further along in my creative endeavour than I would be if I were on my own. Working in a self-employed creative business can be lonely, but the feedback and encouragement I get from the group is invaluable." Cecilia, By Cecil.

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Email: [email protected]

What do you make?

Fused glass and jewellery

How long have you been running your creative business?

1 year - glass fusing for 8.

What inspired you to start your creative business?
​
It was all I could think about when in my office job, so I finally decided to take the plunge and do what I love for a living.

Do you work at this full-time on your creative business or alongside other work?  Tell us about your other work?

Full time

How did you learn your craft - are you self-taught or did you attend courses - if so what and where?

One in person fused glass jewellery making course at Rainbow Glass Studios in Stoke Newington.  I also took a couple of specialist online fused glass courses, but otherwise self-taught with a lot of experimentation.

What is it you love most about the creative process?

Opening the kiln after a firing. It feels like a surprise every time, as you can't see the transformation of the hard sheet glass melting to form a new piece until the process is over.

​How do you find you benefit from being part of a creative collective?

Having a pooled resource of real life advice and experience has been great.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists, designers and makers?

Keep going! It can take time to find your artistic voice, hone your craft, and life events can overtake sometimes, but try to do some of what you love regularly.

What do you make?

Wheel thrown and slip cast porcelain vases, bowls and dishes. All hand decorated in bold black and white 60's inspired designs on the outside and glazed inside with a shiny orange glaze. I also make raku fired vases.

How long have you been running your creative business?

Just over a year.

What inspired you to start your creative business?

I had been taking weekly ceramics classes for several years. Lockdown gave me the opportunity to spend more time making and improving my throwing. And I suddenly had more pots than I could house!

Is there another craft you are drawn to other than your own?

Over the years I have worked and taught lots of art and design disciplines including graphics, illustration, jewellery, printmaking, 3D design. I feel that in my ceramics my interests come together. My fashion textiles background is reflected in the way my ceramics are about shape, pattern and colours. They are also very tactile; they are meant to be handled. I like to leave the exteriors unglazed to allow for the feel of the ceramic surface

Where do you look for creative inspiration?

​I feel very lucky to live in London and I often go to exhibitions and museums. I love the V&A which has an amazing ceramics gallery and fashion court. I have always collected ceramics - Brick Lane and car boot sales used to be happy hunting grounds. And I still manage to squeeze a treasure vase into my luggage when I visit European cities.

How do you find you benefit from being part of a creative collective?

Apart from the mutual support and sociability in Muswell Hill Creatives I think that becoming a member has opened more doors for me. The sharing of information about events and activities has meant that my work has had more exposure. I am particularly grateful for the business and marketing support. Like most creatives, I prefer to spend my time making.  MHC encourages me to work on my website, photography and social media.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists, designers and makers?

Love what you do and surround yourself with supportive people.

What is the biggest challenge of running a creative business?

Keeping on top of admin!

When you're not working on your business, how do you like to spend your time?  hobbies, pastimes etc

With friends and family; walking my little dog Kenneth; northern soul dancing at the Mildmay Club in Newington Green.  I also love to do a bit of travelling. 



Shop Jill Tattersall Ceramics​

What do you make?

A collection of hand-loom and hand-embroidered scarves, throws, accessories and bags using natural fibres such as cotton, linen, silk and Merino wool that reflect my passion for sustainable and authentic craftsmanship.
 
How long have you been running your independent creative business?

5 years.
 
What inspired you to start your creative business?

​After a sudden stroke in 2010, which left me with Aphasia, an impairment of language, I focused on my rehabilitation. Having worked with the charity Aphasia Re-Connect, I regained most of my speech and while recovering from my stroke, I rediscovered my passion for sewing, leading to a hand-made collection of cushions to raise money for the charity. Since this limited-edition collection, I have focused on honing my skills and have since launched various collections that truly reflect my creative life.

Do you work at this full-time on your creative business or alongside other work?  Tell us about your other work?

Full-time
 
How did you learn your craft - are you self-taught or did you attend courses - if so what and where?

​After studying fashion design at Kingston in the late 70s, I had a career as an international fashion designer for over 30 years, including at Laura Biagiotti in Rome, Conran in London and Esprit in San Francisco. I worked closely with iconic British brand Paul Smith for 20 years most recently as menswear director working closely with Paul and Derek in the design team. I was involved in the whole process from initial ideas and inspiration through to the finished product. 

What is it you love most about the creative process?

It’s all about adding the uniqueness of the hand embroidery to my pieces. I enjoy creating the initial sketches for a piece and then gathering the fabrics and how I am going to introduce the embroidery to the piece. When I recently worked with artisans in Marrakesh, I loved giving them my designs and seeing them work their magic using hand-looms and stitching. It’s so much more rewarding than working on pieces that have been produced on a larger scale as each piece is so individual. The people were just so wonderful to collaborate with.
 
Is there another craft you are drawn to other than your own?

Ceramics - the possibilities of it and the idea of coil building and pinching. It’s so tactile.

Where do you look for creative inspiration?

I am a creative person who loves everything that feeds creativity - a mood, a feeling, a thought about say some fabrics or a piece of art or colours I’m surrounded with. I went to a Sean Scully and Anna Albers exhibition recently which featured stripes which led me to an idea for how to use stripes in a throw. I spent time in Marrakesh and created mood boards from the incredible sights and wonderful people I encountered – from visiting the markets to being inspired by the colours of a pile of egg boxes on the street. 

What is the biggest challenge of running a creative business?

Bringing the brand to life and showing its beauty when these days so much is online. Getting out and showcasing your products in person is so important
 
When you're not working on your business, how do you like to spend your time?  hobbies, pastimes etc
​
Exhibitions, travelling and I have a real ambition to go up in a hot balloon. I also love mudlarking.

What do you make?

I design and make contemporary jewellery from silver, gold and semi-precious gemstones. I use a combination of traditional goldsmithing techniques, alongside more modern practices.

How long have you been running your creative business?

About 15 years in one form or another.

What inspired you to start your creative business?

​I repaired a broken bead necklace of mine and caught the bug. I signed up for a basic jewellery class and next thing I knew I was enrolled in a City & Guild jewellery degree.

Do you work at this full-time on your creative business or alongside other work?  Tell us about your other work?

My jewellery business has been full-time work, but since the pandemic I have pulled back a bit and made it more of a part-time endeavour. This gives me time to paint, sketch and travel.

How did you learn your craft - are you self-taught or did you attend courses - if so what and where?

​I did a 4 year jewellery degree (City & Guild) at City LIt in London, as well as a series of specialised workshops at West Dean, Metalwerx (US), Haystack (US) and with various private tutors. I also have a painting degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago which has informed my designs.

​​What is it you love most about the creative process?

"I love finding shapes in nature that I then translate into metal. When I was working on my painting degree, it was all about finding shapes and textures that were translated into mark making on the canvas. When I discovered metal, something clicked.

​I did a lot of bookbinding when studying my art degree, so I love to make and work in sketchbooks as a way to develop a design. But as often as not, I will pick up a piece of silver scrap and see if I can make something out of a piece that was left behind. A bit like scraps of collage paper that are more interesting than the bigger piece.

Is there another craft you are drawn to other than your own?

I went back to embroidery and stitching during lockdown. I provided focus and mental relaxation that I really needed at the time. I am less interested in traditional stitching and more drawn to the ides of mark making.

Where do you look for creative inspiration?

My primary source for design and inspiration is the seaside, especially in New England where I grew up. I am constantly taking myself on "artist dates" to see exhibitions (painting, textile, drawing in particular). I also have a degree in History of Art, so exhibitions constantly feed my creative and academic needs.

How do you find you benefit from being part of a creative collective?

I love the community that MHC provides. It is informative, creative, supportive and a place where we can go shout successes from the roof top or drown our sorrows. The group of Creatives changes and evolves, but the sense of community remains.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists, designers and makers?

Do it! I started on a kitchen table with the dream of one day having a studio and a business. Explore and take risks, you will eventually find your style.

What do you make?

Japanese textiles - vintage scarves and bags, indigo dyed Shibori scarves and bags and gifts.

How long have you been running your creative business?

8 years.

What inspired you to start your creative business?

​A seminal bucket list trip to Japan to learn with international textiles guru, Bryan Whitehead in 2014. I learnt Shibori resist dyeing and Katagami stencilling and how to dye with indigo. That and being made redundant the year after I came back!

Do you work at this full-time on your creative business or alongside other work?  Tell us about your other work?

I am a full-time textiles artist, maker and teacher.

How did you learn your craft - are you self-taught or did you attend courses - if so what and where?

​Courses at West Dean College near Chichester and in Fujino, Japan with Bryan Whitehead and then lots and lots of practice and making.

​What is it you love most about the creative process?

There are just so many designs you can make with Shibori, in particular, which is my main focus. I especially love the unpicking of pieces after they have been dyed in the indigo as it is magic to see what you have created and how the dye has travelled through the fabric.

Is there another craft you are drawn to other than your own?

​I have always wanted to try glassblowing. I did some glass fusing and slumping at West Dean and also some glass bead making there so the idea of working with glass excites me!

Where do you look for creative inspiration?

I love going to Japan and visiting second hand and antique textiles stores and the temple markets and will buy vintage fabrics with interesting patterns as inspiration.

​I also love spending a few hours on Pinterest discovering pattern and others’ Shibori work and there's the World Shibori Network which has good links to events, exhibitions and creativity. I'm also a big fan of the free exhibitions at Japan House on High Street Kensington.

How do you find you benefit from being part of a creative collective?

It can be quite lonely being a maker and, whilst I am very comfortable in my own company, it is great to meet with my fellow creatives and find out what they are working on. It can even lead to collaborations too. For instance, a few years back I worked with alumni member, Isabella Lepri, a potter. She made lamp bases and I made Shibori lampshades. There's also loads of help, advice and support about marketing,exhibitions, social media and a bunch of other stuff. We all share our skills and support each other and we exhibit together throughout the year at our markets and other events. 

What advice would you give to aspiring artists, designers and makers?

Give yourself time to play and explore your craft. That's where the creativity and joy comes from. And, very importantly, have a variety of different income sources. I teach online and in person, sell at markets, in shops and when I do exhibitions and teach, I do online talks, sell kits, threads and books. Then if one thing is slow, you can try to double down on something else to make up the shortfall.

What is the biggest challenge of running a creative business?

Getting enough money coming in. You can't rest on your laurels. You always need a pipeline of work and to do enough marketing and promotion to keep driving sales. This is my only job, so I have to make sure I earn enough to pay my bills and have a life. I wouldn't do anything else though!

When you're not working on your business, how do you like to spend your time?  hobbies, pastimes etc

I love immersive theatre and go to lots of events with friends. And I love a good walk and eating out too.

To shop with Romor Designs or join a workshop head to the website here.

Greg is our music man who captures iconic bands and gigs in his paintings and prints. His diverse interests and creative inspiration is clear to see in the 5th in our All About Me interview series.

What do you Make?

I paint and make prints inspired by rock and pop music. I predominantly paint using gouache and acrylic and I make prints from lino cuts. I scan my paintings and make high quality prints to sell at markets and on my Etsy site. I have found that the work I make of London based artists, or concerts within the local north London area, have generated a lot of interest and this has become my main area of focus.

How long have you been running your creative business?

I studied Graphic Design at art college, and I’ve held solo exhibitions of my work in Leeds, Manchester, and London but the idea of running a creative business became more concrete during the Covid lockdown period. In 2023 I launched my Etsy business and started selling my work at markets. I’ve been delighted with the positive feedback I’ve received so far, and this led me to join Muswell Hill Creatives earlier this year to try and develop my business further.

What do you make?

I hand-draw London buildings and scenes using ink and watercolour pencil or ink and brush/pen. I then sell giclee prints and cards of my work.

How long have you been running your creative business?
3 years

What inspired you to start your creative business?

I have always enjoyed drawing and before I officially started my business. I was drawing houses and buildings for friends and family which were proving popular, so I thought why not give it a go! I also joined Muswell Hill Creatives which gave a me a great confidence boost to do something with my art.

Do you work at this full-time on your creative business or alongside other work?  Tell us about your other work?

I did have another job when I first started my business but when things took off it was too difficult to do both. I chose to do the thing I love so I now work full-time (between school hours!) on my creative business.

How did you learn your craft - are you self-taught or did you attend courses - if so what and where?

I am self-taught. I have kept up with drawing/painting and it has always been a really important creative outlet for me throughout my life. I have focussed on a lot of watercolour and graphite work over the years and learnt mainly through practice. This has helped me to refine the drawing style I have today.

Where do you look for creative inspiration?
I have always been inspired by art such as hyper realism which I think feeds my love of detail. I see such amazing work on social media/galleries etc. I follow a lot of inspirational artists/illustrators on Instagram.

​What is it you love most about the creative process?

The thing I enjoy above all is sitting in my studio with my music on and getting completely lost in a drawing. I love adding colour and experimenting with new ideas especially with a type of scene/ style of building I haven’t drawn before.

Is there another craft you are drawn to other than your own?

I did consider pottery at one point and I did a course. Also sculpting. I think that’s something I might try as a hobby one day though.

How do you find you benefit from being part of a creative collective?

It benefits me in lots of ways. Having my own little creative business is incredibly rewarding, but I spend a lot of my day in my studio. Being part of a creative makes me feel I’m not alone and have a group I can turn to with any questions or just for a chat! It has definitely helped me at this stage of my business and I am so grateful for all the support I’ve had over the last 3 years.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists, designers and makers?

Running a creative business is definitely hard work but it’s a fantastic feeling to sell something that you have designed and created yourself. 

​What is the biggest challenge of running a creative business?

​There’s never enough time in the day! I’ve learnt over time that I need to be quite disciplined and know when to put my pencils down. It’s quite addictive! Striking a balance I would say has been a challenge for me but I’m getting there!

When you're not working on your business, how do you like to spend your time?  hobbies, pastimes etc

I love spending time with family and friends and listening to music. I’m part of a local choir which I love. I’ve also started early morning running but we’ll see how long that lasts!

Shop Hilary Sketches Here

What do you make?

Wheel thrown stoneware and porcelain ceramics. My main focus is homeware, although I also occasionally make ceramic ornaments and stationery featuring ceramic decorations. My pieces are intended to be both beautiful and functional.

How long have you been running your creative business?
​
Since the summer of 2021.

What inspired you to start your creative business?

I was hooked from the first time I tried throwing on the wheel!  Friends and family encouraged me to try offering my pieces to a wider audience so I opened an Etsy Shop in July 2021 and the business developed from there.

Do you work at this full-time on your creative business or alongside other work?  Tell us about your other work?

I currently work full-time on my creative business. I spent the majority of my previous working life as an academic; and also worked as a curator in the British Library and as a teacher.

How did you learn your craft - are you self-taught or did you attend courses - if so what and where?
​
I came to ceramics through a weekly evening class with local ceramicist, Ricky Grimes, and had just begun to try throwing on the wheel when the pandemic struck and classes were closed.  I was able to set up a wheel at home, and the restrictions of the pandemic afforded me the time and space to work on developing my skill. I am largely self-taught, but have spent time working as a member of a studio in Camden alongside other potters and ceramicists, and still attend sessions at Ricky's studio.

What is it you love most about the creative process?

The infinite variety. Pottery is a never-ending experiment in form and function, even before you begin to consider aspects such as the type of clay body or the diversity of glazes and decorative techniques. The endless potential in a ball of clay is a continual source of challenge and delight; and the fact that the finished pieces can be used and enjoyed is an added pleasure.

Is there another craft you are drawn to other than your own?
​
Possibly too many to mention. However, books have always been a large part of my life and I would love to try my hand at book binding.

Where do you look for creative inspiration?

As we are surrounded by functional ceramics, sources of inspiration are everywhere. I have been known to be more drawn to the crockery than the food in cafes and restaurants!

How do you find you benefit from being part of a creative collective?
​
Sharing experience, expertise and support. Making is often quite solitary in nature, and having a network of fellow creatives to bounce ideas off and seek inspiration and encouragement from is invaluable.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists, designers and makers?

Go for it! Doing something that you love – on whatever level and scale – is hugely rewarding.

​What is the biggest challenge of running a creative business?

Probably most makers find much of the business side of running a creative business a challenge. The primary passion is for making and the business side is often secondary to this. Every aspect, from pricing and marketing onwards has been (and continues to be!) a steep learning curve. Learning to have confidence in, and yet a certain level of emotional detachment from, the pieces you make is also a challenge. Makers put a bit of themselves into everything they produce and putting work out into the world in a transactional way can be daunting.

When you're not working on your business, how do you like to spend your time?  hobbies, pastimes etc

Books; theatre; tennis; travelling; and socialising with friends and family.

Check out Kate's online shop here

Gardening Bohemia: Bloom Outdoors at The Garden Museum until 29 September 2024 is recommended by potter Kate Sealey Rahman and jewellery designer maker Michele Wyckoff Smith.

A small exhibition but well worth the visit it centres on four extraordinary women and the green spaces they surrounded themselves with: writer Virginia Woolf and her garden at Monk’s House; her sister artist Vanessa Bell, whose garden and studio was at nearby Charleston; arts patron and photographer Lady Ottoline Morrell, who presided over Garsington Manor; and garden designer and writer Vita Sackville-West and the gardens at Sissinghurst Castle.

Art Without Heroes at the William Morris Gallery on until 22 September 2024 and is highly recommended by our Japanese textiles artist and teacher Rob Jones of Romor Designs who writes about it here.

​The exhibition is The most wide-ranging exhibition in the UK dedicated to Japanese folk-craft.

Graciela Iturbide: Shadowlines at The Photographers Gallery until Sunday 22 September 2024.

Recommended by textiles designer maker Sue Copeland as a fantastic exhibition in which you discover the world of the Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide (b. 1942, Mexico City) which she presents in black and white - or as she describes it, as "an abstraction of the mind."

Six Lives of Henry VIII at the National Portrait Gallery until 8 September 2024. 

​Ros of Papershades says: "The NPG has pulled together a fascinating exhibition about the six women who married King Henry VIII. Some of them, like Katherine Howard, have almost been erased from history and only a very few, miniature, portraits survive. Each wife has her own gallery and includes images of the people who surrounded her in her life, along with artefacts and objects, handwritten letters, inscriptions in books and very personal jewellery. It’s riveting!"

Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520 - 1920 at the Tate Britain until 13 October 2024.

Two paintings in the exhibition are by artist Nina Hamnett - the great aunt of Muswell Hill Creatives' founder Rachael Booth-Clibborn. Look out for 'Still Life with a Blue Jug' and 'Der Sturm' as shown in exhibition catalogue here.

Two other paintings by Nina now sit within the Tate Britain's permanent collection - 'The Landlady' and 'A Gentleman with a Top Hat'.

Also on our list to visit:

The Biba Story, 1964-1975 - Textile Museum, Bermondsey until 8 September 2024
 
New Life: Rembrandt and Children - British Museum until 6 October 2024
 
Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers at National Gallery from 14 September - 19 January 2025
 
Henry Moore: Shadows on the Wall at the Courtauld until 22 September 2024

Vanessa Bell: A Pioneer of Modern Art at the Courtauld until 6 October 2024

Expressionists, Kandinsky, Munter and the Blue Rider  at Tate Modern to 20 October 2024

Further Afield:

Henry Moore in Miniature at The Holburne Museum, Bath until 8 September 2024

Bloomin' Brilliant - The Life and Works of Raymond Briggs at the Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft until Sunday 27 October 2024.   You'll find pieces from the Romor Designs Japanese collection in their shop at this wonderful museum.