36 artisans and businesses to 'shop small' with this Christmas
Here at Country Living, we are passionate about championing heritage crafts and talented artisans – from weavers to stained glass makers – and there's no better time to show small makers some love than in the run up to Christmas.
If you resist the lure of high street Black Friday deals and shop small, you'll be supporting individuals who pour their heart and soul into their craft.
You'll also be giving your loved ones gifts that are completely unique – so what's not to love?
Below, you'll find a list of the artisans and makers we've featured in Country Living magazines throughout 2024 for inspiration – along with some of our favourite gifts you can buy from them this Christmas.
36 artisans and business to 'shop small' with this Christmas
Beauvamp
The chance discovery of a threadbare Victorian lamp led Alice Moylan to reimagine vintage lightings designs to spectacular effect. Her opulent lampshades have even featured on the set of Killing Eve.
Blackthorn Salt
From the Ayrshire coast, Blackthorn produces Scottish sea salt that will elevate any dish – a must for keen chefs.
Chocolarder
Chocolarder makes the finest bean-to-bar chocolate with flowers foraged on the Cornish coast, and honey produced by Cornish black bees from a local beekeeper.
Cornishware
Charles Rickards and his daughter Rebecca moved iconic striped pottery brand Cornishware back to Cornwall from its temporary home in China, setting up a kiln on the family farm and converting brans to potting, painting and packing stations. We covet their mugs – and, best of all, they can be personalised for a thoughtful gift.
Diane Hill
After discovering chinoiserie as a textile student, Diane Hill started creating her own prints, wallpaper and accessories featuring birds, flowers and butterflies inspired by this elegant style.
Flora Jamieson
Flora was working in admin at Madame Taussauds when she found a book about stained glass. Now she creates her own designs and takes bespoke commissions, bathing a medieval art form in a bold new light.
Hiut Denim Co
Since launching in 2011, Clare and David Hieatt have been designing jeans made from eco-friendly cotton in Cardigan, West Wales.
Imprint Casts
When ill health threatened to turn her life upside down, Katy Eccles crafted a new career, creating ravishingly beautiful casts of homegrown plants.
Jennifer Collier
We love an artisan who thinks outside the box; Jennifer Collier uses battered old paperbacks and muddied maps to craft everything from teacups to typewriters in her Staffordshire studio. “I don’t like writing or sketching because my brain doesn’t work like that,” she explains. “I think in 3D.
Julie Jones
Star baker and pastry chef Julie Jones also campaigns to raise awareness of dementia and the therapeutic power of baking – and Jamie Oliver raves about her recipe books.
Makiko Hastings
Makiko’s life was blighted by personal trauma – until she discovered that making Japanese-inspired ceramics can be as cathartic as it is creative. Her soothing designs are available during online shop opening periods throughout the year.
Master The Art
Along with his daughter Kate Elwell, master gilder and paint-effects expert Roger Newton opened a studio in Shropshire in 2021, which hosts courses from gilding to willow weaving. You can also purchase course vouchers and the pair's hand-embellished homewares online.
Otter Surfboards
James Otter spends up to 80 hours handcrafting each of his wooden surf, body and paddle boards in Porthtowan, Cornwall.
Prickly Thistle
This pioneering small business has breathed new life into traditional tartan, reviving a dying industry in the Highlands and rebelling against fast fashion.
Rachel Mulligan
Rachel’s intricate stained-glass designs are inspired by medieval art, nature and poetry, using hand-blown glass from her garden studio in Surrey.
Rosa Harradine
This self-taught brushmaker uses natural fibres and hand-harvested hazel to create objects of beauty and function from her home in Carmarthen.
Rush Matters
Felicity Irons skilfully weaves baskets and homeware using freshwater bulrushes harvested from rivers in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire.
Smokin' Brothers
From a Cotswolds smokehouse, three Italian friends – Vincenzo, Allessandro and Iacopo – produce sustainable smoked salmon. A-list chefs can’t get enough of its buttery texture and rich flavour – and you can order it to your own home for a decadent Christmas treat.
Vanessa Bowman
Deep in a Dorset valley, artist Vanessa captures the nostalgic charm of a village in winter. Customers love cards and prints of her coloruful designs – including the Highgrove Estate.
Wild Thyme Spirits
Although the Isle of Colonsay, part of the Inner Hebrides, has a population of just 130 people, it’s also home to a small-batch distillery that exports gin around the world, run by husband-and-wife team Fin and Eileen Geekie.
Yare Valley
Father-and-son duo Tim and Will Mack cold-press rapeseed from their Norfolk farm into nutritious and delicious oils, dressings and infusions, beloved by foodies.
Below are 15 more artisans offering plenty of Christmas gift inspiration...
Here at Country Living, we are passionate about championing talented artisans – from weavers to stained glass makers – and there's no better time to show small makers some love than in the run up to Christmas.
If you resist the lure of High-street Black Friday deals and shop small, you'll be supporting individuals who pour their heart and soul into their craft. You'll also be giving your loved ones gifts that are completely unique – what's not to love?
On this page you'll find all of all the artisans and makers we've featured in Country Living magazines throughout 2024 – along with some of our favourite gifts you can buy from them this Christmas.
Artisans and business to 'shop small' with this Christmas
Smokin' Brothers smoked salmon: From a Cotswolds smokehouse, three Italian friends – Vincenzo, Allessandro and Iacopo – produce sustainable smoked salmon. A-list chefs can’t get enough of it’s buttery texture and rich flavour – and you can order it to your own home for a decadent Christmas treat.
Jennifer Collier paper artist: We love an artisan who thinks outside the box; Jennifer Collier uses battered old paperbacks and muddied maps to craft everything from teacups to typewriters in her Staffordshire studio. “I don’t like writing or sketching because my brain doesn’t work like that,” she explains. “I think in 3D.
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