Building and sustaining a craft business
Four established makers specialising in ceramics, jewellery, textiles and furniture share their top tips for business success
We talk to jeweller Melanie Eddy, furniture designer Andy King, textile artist Ekta Kaul, and ceramic artist Karen Thompson to find out what fuels their creative practice. In a series of video conversations, each maker reveals their top tips for creating and sustaining a successful craft business.
Melanie Eddy, jewellery designer-maker
From her studio based in the Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell London, Melanie Eddy creates sculptural jewellery that uses geometry as a tool to explore the relationship of form to the body. Melanie is a key academic on the MA Design: Ceramics Furniture and Jewellery programme at Central Saint Martins. She is a Director of The Association for Contemporary Jewellery and is consistently involved in projects relating to her field; sector development, research, writing, exhibition installation and curation are examples.
Melanie Eddy at work
“Have faith in your work. Stick with it, stay engaged, stay involved”
- Melanie Eddy
Andy King, furniture designer-maker
Andy King is the founder of King & Webbon, a contemporary furniture design studio in Bristol. Originally from an engineering background, Andy’s passion for woodwork developed as a child while working alongside his Dad, a carpenter of over 50 years; this inspired Andy to change career and train as a furniture maker, with a focus on designing and making furniture that is beautifully crafted and environmentally responsible.
Andy King in his studio
“Time plus consistency equals success. There is no such thing as overnight success, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it!”
- Andy King
Ekta Kaul, textile artist
Ekta Kaul is a textile artist known for her narrative maps that explore places, history and belonging through stitch. She works on public and private commissions and her work is held in several permanent collections including at the Crafts Council, Liberty of London, the Gunnersbury Museum and those of private collectors. Ekta teaches at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London and Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge as well as internationally. She has received awards from the Crafts Council and the Arts Council England and was the winner of 2021 Cockpit Arts Textile Prize. She works from her studio at Cockpit Arts in Bloomsbury, London.
Ekta Kaul, textile artist
“Nurture relationships with people invested in you and keep showing up”
- Ekta Kaul
Karen Thompson, ceramic artist
Karen Thompson is a ceramic artist and educator based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Thompson’s ceramic work draws on both historic and contemporary influences and frequently explores social and political themes using subversion, satire and humour. Her work is held in private and public collections including The Crafts Council, The Arts Council, York Art Gallery, Scarborough Museums Trust, Bath Spa University and Crescent Arts.
Karen Thompson, ceramic artist
“Don’t take it personally if you get rejected for something, there is a lot to be learned from not getting an opportunity”
- Karen Thompson
Acknowledgements
With thanks to our sponsors Crafting Europe and Creative Europe.
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