The Coffee Table Book 'Make: Cornwall' That Every Creative Needs

We love a good coffee table book and this is one we can't wait to get our hands on! 

In Cornwall, we are so lucky to be surrounded by so many talented and creative makers. Our scenery and community is one that inspires us every day!

Anya Rice and Katherine Sorrell take the time to share an insight into their new lifestyle book, 'Make: Cornwall' which celebrates 25 modern craftspeople in the South West.

The book features all kinds of crafts from jewellery, ceramics, woodwork to digital embroidery! With stunning photography of makers in their workspaces, this book gives us a chance to go behind the scenes and get to know the creative processes and workspaces of designers.

We're thrilled to see makers across the South West be featured and supported for their hard word, contemporary designs and sustainable methods. Read our interview with the authors and creators of Make: Cornwall below, find out where the inspiration came from, what you can expect from the book and whether there could be another in the future... We also get to meet the incredible jewellers featured in the book too!

"We really wanted to smash any misconceptions that makers in Cornwall might be a bit behind the times, or only focussed on traditional craft..."

"All sorts of crafts are represented, including jewellery (from precious metals to salvaged beach plastic), ceramics, woodwork, textiles, dyeing, leatherwork, book-binding, digital embroidery and more..."

Featured Jeweller, Claire Thorp

Claire Thorp’s eco-conscious jewellery business is called Pica Pica, which means ‘magpie’ in Latin. She scours junk shops, vintage fairs and local beaches for interesting components to include in her understated range, and assembles them intuitively, transforming them into bespoke items that juxtapose their weathered textures with a clean, minimal and modern aesthetic. Claire works from her studio in Penryn.

How many craftspeople does the book feature and what kinds of professions can we expect to see?

We have selected 25 makers - which was really difficult, because there are so many wonderful people to choose from and we would have loved to have included lots more. All sorts of crafts are represented, including jewellery (from precious metals to salvaged beach plastic), ceramics, woodwork, textiles, dyeing, leatherwork, book-binding, digital embroidery and more.

How did you find working together on the book?

It’s been great! For the most part, we have been in sync with one another, but where we have felt differently to one another, we have always worked out an amicable compromise.

How long have you been working on this project?

Our first photo shoot for the book was in March last year, but we spent about a year before that planning it.

What was your aim when photographing the creatives within the book?

At the back of our minds we had a bit of a mantra: people, places, process, products. We wanted to show all of these, while also creating attractive, modern imagery that’s just delicious to look at.

What’s your favourite thing about living in Cornwall?

Anya: I’m a keen beachcomber, and I like to make sea glass mobiles in my spare time from the treasures I pick up from the beaches.

Katherine: Swimming in the sea. It’s so joyful and invigorating, and I love the hard-to-find coves and beaches that don’t get too busy, even in the summer.

"There is also a lot of support for creatives down here, in the forms of the many further education colleges and, of course, Falmouth University, and fantastic organisations like Cultivator and the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Fund, who have been very helpful to us and to many of the makers featured in the book..."

Featured Jeweller, Abi Wason

Abi Wason runs Deer & Shine from a tiny shed that she built in her back garden. She makes elegant, edgy, minimal pieces that are inspired by geometric shapes, in a mix of textures and materials. Abi loves working with brass and gold, and also uses gemstones and crystals in some of her necklaces.

Why do you think Cornwall is a great place for creatives?

The scenery is so jaw-droopingly beautiful, it inspires people in all sorts of ways, whether it’s the colours of the sea, the sky, the fields, the gorse, and so on, or the patterns within the landscapes and the industrial heritage of mine shafts and machinery. It’s also simply the fresh air and sense of space - the ability to think freely, not being caught up in stressful cross-city commutes while breathing in polluted air, jammed up against loads of other people.

There is also a lot of support for creatives down here, in the forms of the many further education colleges and, of course, Falmouth University, and fantastic organisations like Cultivator and the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Fund, who have been very helpful to us and to many of the makers featured in the book.

What was a typical day like working with the creatives featured in the book?

Generally, we would arrive at their studio first thing in the morning armed with camera, tripod and reflector (never artificial lighting, we only use natural light) and assess the space, working out where the light fell best and what would be the most interesting angles. We asked the makers to have a good tidy up before we arrived - it’s a case of presenting their best selves to the world! We’d ask about their tools and processes, to ensure we covered everything, and then spend time capturing a standalone portrait of the maker, then shots of them at work, close-ups of their equipment and their work in progress, and of course their finished products. Each shoot took around four hours - it was time-consuming because we were very careful to set each shot up so it looked beautiful, while also being representative of the maker and their work.

What was the most challenging part about making this book?

Raising the finances in advance in order to pay for the design, editing, printing and marketing has definitely been a challenge. We did a round of fund-raising via Crowdfunder, and are about to do a second one - the principle was to ask for pre-orders, which we will fulfil once the book is published in July.

How would you describe the relationship between creatives in Cornwall?

It’s wonderful. There is such a lovely network of people who collaborate and support each other.

"Some people feel that craft is expensive, but when you understand the hard work, training, experience, passion and integrity that goes into it you just appreciate it so much more..."