Practical Beauty
Hand-crafted home comforts. Compiled by Peggy Larcom, Tina Rose & Ian Sclater
Copenhagentrained Mette Fruergaard-Jensen is now based in the Coburg Art Studios in Edinburgh.
Using recycled and found materials, such as bone, horn, wood, copper and aluminium, her boxes reflect a balance between a rough, polished surface and a raw, refined aesthetic.
Check out her work at Glasgow’s Collins Gallery (April 16- May 7). – P.L.
Cliff-top fence, wall-hanging
Kirkcudbright-based Jo Gallant applies her love of colour and texture to create one-off wall-hangings and cushions in a combination of fabrics, including velvets, cottons, silks and organzas.
Using dye-painting, quilting and
machine embroidery, her designs range
from the abstract to depictions of flora,
fauna and landscapes.
www.jogallant.co.uk – I.S.
Sculptor Tom Allan is reinvigorating the time-honoured craft of stone-carving, an ancient tradition in Scotland, with lyrical, playful sculptures for the home or garden.
Trained at Glasgow School of Art and having
learned from stonemasons in Scotland and
marble-carvers in Carrara, Italy, Allan runs
classes at the Glasgow Sculpture Studio.
www.tom-allan.co.uk – P.L.
Whissender Pod, 50cm (w) x 33cm (h), £380
Basketmaker Lise Bech crafts unique sculptural
and functional pieces using organically grown
willow as well as wild heather, field rush and
hair moss from the landscape around her.
www.bechbaskets.net – P.L.
Inspired by the play of light, texture and movement in nature, Swedish-born glass artist Elin Isaksson creates delicate, simple, sculptural forms which echo different times of the year.
Elin studied
glass at Edinburgh College of Art before
establishing her studio and gallery in
Alloa. She runs one-day workshops
offering beginners the chance to make a
paperweight, bowl or vase or try blowing a
tumbler.
www.elinisaksson.com – T.R.
‘In pursuit of the perfect partner’
The humble tea towel can be found in
every British kitchen, so why shouldn’t
an essential part of everyday life also be a
work of art? Fife-based designer/maker/
artist/illustrator Claire Heminsley
creates whimsical, limited edition cotton
prints which will bring a smile to your
face and a touch of pizzazz to your
kitchen. 50 x 80cm, £11-£14.
www.incahoots.org.uk – P.L.
Tilted bowls, large £260, small £165
The off-centre ellipses of these simple, hand-built and slip-cast porcelain bowls and vessels by Edinburgh-based ceramicist Lara Scobie are decorated with patterns inspired by plants and nature.
Lara’s work is light
and fresh, with drawings and
colour added when the clay
is still wet.
www.adampottery.co.uk (Click
on ‘artists’) – T.R..
Lamp shades, hand-painted moulded silk
Vibrant colours and patterns burst forth from cushions and moulded lampshades by Mirjam Van Beek. Each of her pieces is an original, one-off creation and can be made to suit your colour scheme.
The saturated tones
and luxurious movement of her works reflect
the inspiration she draws from nature,
landscape, music, travel and her native
Holland.
www.bordersilks.com – P.L.
DNA Vision ® Zoom Mars Rainbow Mix
Surrey-based DNA Art has taken the concept of personalised art to a whole new level with their DNA Vision range.
After
placing your order, the company will send
you a DNA swab kit for you to provide a
swab sample from your inner cheek and
return in a sterilised container. The
company’s lab technicians then use it to
replicate the strings of your DNA, treat it
with a colouring and take a high
resolution photograph which you can
hang on your wall.
www.dna-art.co.uk – I.S.
Coffee table in oak and fumed oak PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER BUTLER
Quality of design and
craftsmanship and the use of
fine, native timbers are
central to the practice of
Borders-based furnituredesigner/
maker
Christopher Butler.
Angular forms and subtle
curves are perfectly matched
with the hue and natural
grain of the wood to create a
statement piece suitable for
your room of choice.
www.christopherbutlerfurniture.com – P. L.
