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.

What do you make?

Organic, vegan, palm oil free skincare.

How long have you been running your creative business?

Just over six years.

What inspired you to start your creative business?

I wanted to make organic skincare for myself. Since birth, I have had a number of minor skin issues including cold sores, rashes and dry skin. I began researching natural alternatives to remedy these problems. While working on a documentary about the refugee crisis I found the impetus to create Queenie Organics as a way of raising money for the charities I was working with at the time. The business has grown from there.

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

This is one of three side hustles. I am also a semi-retired cinematographer and still shoot the odd project. I also trade and invest in various financial products.

Is there another craft you are drawn to other than your own?
​
Drawing, ceramics, painting- I also do all the photography and design for Queenie’s website and socials- courtesy of an arts background.
 
Where do you look for creative inspiration?

When initially designing the website and packaging, I looked at fashion magazines from the 90’s, art deco cosmetics and current cosmetic design.
 
How do you find you benefit from being part of a creative collective?

I like seeing what others are doing and chatting about their process and craft and being part of this community of crafts people.

What do you make?

Handmade applique T-shirts featuring original designs using organic and ethically made cottons for babies and children. The Isabee brand is all about colours, simplicity, fun and quality.
 
How long have you been running your creative business?

20 years.

What inspired you to start Isabee? 

I have always wanted to be independent, offer something different and of quality. I started my business by making children's dressing up clothes. All I could find in the shops for my children were low quality garments - mostly featuring cartoon characters, which I did not find very creative. Isabee was expanded when I introduced my applique t-shirts to offer something different and of quality. 

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

Do what you want to do, go for it and don't wait until tomorrow.
 
What is the biggest challenge of running a creative business?

Balancing the finance!

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

Exhibitions, gardening, friends and dance. These apricots are from my garden. It's a very easy tree to grow in a sunny spot, The fruits are fantastic and delicious! 

Shop Isabee here

Members of our collective have various ways in which they share their creations, whether through markets, exhibitions, online platforms, or stocking their pieces in physical stores.

There's an undeniable appeal in having unique, handcrafted pieces featured in brick-and-mortar establishments such as shops, galleries, and cafes. They provide a tangible space for the community to experience and appreciate the intricate details and artistry behind a maker's work. 

Beyond the North London area, our members' works grace the shelves of stockists reaching far and wide, from the hills of Yorkshire to the rolling Sussex Downs. 

Stocking in independent stores supports the local economy and the fostering of community, promoting the ethos of buying and supporting local talent.  

​In this blog, we are excited to spotlight and share some of these fantastic locations and celebrate the diverse range of establishments that champion and appreciate the unique, handmade treasures crafted by independent artists, designers and makers.

Over the years our Japanese textiles artist - Rob Jones of Romor Designs has educated and inspired our collective about the beautiful and ancient craft of Boro Mending.  Michele at Wyckoff Smith Jewellery has been to check out the Japanese Aesthetics of Recycling exhibition at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS. She loved it and says it is well worth a visit.

The exhibition "highlights the beauty of Japanese recycling, showcasing objects made of cotton, hemp, bast fibres, washi (handmade paper) and pottery.  

Exhibiting over 100 objects from the Karun Thakar Collection - mostly dating from the Edo period (江戸時代, Edo jidai) or Tokugawa period (徳川時代, Tokugawa jidai) - the exhibition includes exquisite examples of ‘Boro’ and ‘sakiori’ textiles, washi and kin-tsugi or gin-tsugi pottery."

The exhibition runs until 23 September. 

Held every year since 1769, the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy displays works in a variety of mediums and genres by emerging and established artists. We were very excited when we found out that two former members of Muswell Hill Creatives - Lito Apostolakou and Jo Angell - had been selected to exhibit this year.

MHC founder and original Sussex girl, Rachael spent a windswept afternoon visiting the excellent Barbara Hepworth Art & Life exhibition at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne.

This exhibition, which has garnered rave reviews....... displays some of Hepworth’s most celebrated sculptures including the modern abstract carving that launched her career in the 1920s and 1930s, her iconic strung sculptures of the 1940s and 1950s, and large-scale bronze and carved sculptures from later in her career.

Open until 3 September.

Our street photographer Barry Bottomley recommends the fantastic Soutine/Kossoff exhibition at Hastings Contemporary - "major figures of 20th century painting: one a master of the School of Paris, the other a master of the School of London."