Fortnum & Makers: A Celebration of British Craftsmanship

Fortnum & Makers

From hampers brimming with surprises to stylish tableware and accessories, we’ve always sought to bring joy through beautiful things, and great craft has always been a part of our DNA. In a world that increasingly prioritises speed over quality, we take huge pride in celebrating traditional craftspeople.

Inspired by our ongoing commitment to crafts in all its forms, we're delighted to introduce to you our Fortnum & Makers, an exhibition at our Piccadilly store, featuring some of Britain's most accomplished creators and makers, each of whom is keeping a craft tradition alive through their work.

And so, without further ado, meet the Makers - a collection of British-based designers and craftspeople so wonderfully talented that they’ll knock your socks off (just be sure you’re wearing a pair first, of course).

"We’re unbelievably fortunate to be welcoming both new talent and established makers to Fortnum’s — and their dedication, their innovation, their commitment to sustainability and their sheer level of skill is truly inspiring.often made by expert artisans whose traditional skills have been honed by generations of craftspeople."

Jo Newton, Director of Buying, Hampers, Fashion, Beauty & Home at Fortnum & Mason

Kim Jordan - Furniture Maker

Following his training as an “ébéniste” at the world-renowned Ecole Boulle, Kim continued his learning in some of the most prestigious ateliers in Paris — where he acquired a number of traditional specialist skills including veneering, marquetry, working with shagreen and parchment, French polishing, and straw marquetry.

From his workshop in London, Kim now designs and makes contemporary pieces that draw on his knowledge of working with these noble materials and traditional techniques.

Tim Plunkett

Learning by trial and error, Tim Plunkett turned professional in 1995 with the help of the Princes Trust, and a few years later was made the youngest person ever to be invited onto the Register of Professional Turners held by the Worshipful Company of Turners.

Committed to living and working sustainably, Tim's beautiful and practical pieces are made with locally-sourced wood, and eschew superfluous embellishment in favour of pure, elegant lines, which showcase the unique character of each piece of material.

Deborah Brett - Ceramicist

After a twenty year career as a fashion journalist for The Times, Harper's Bazaar, Red magazine and Elle, Deborah Brett retrained as a ceramicist. Since graduating, Deborah has had two group shows exhibiting her decorative sculptural pieces and works on commissions from her West London studio.

Exquisite showpieces for any dining table, each piece in the DB Ceramic collection at Fortnum's is meticulously slip cast from porcelain, ensuring its expert craftsmanship.

Natasha Hulse - Textile Designer

Natasha Hulse is a textile designer specialising in handcrafted fabrics for interior design and bespoke furniture. Natasha’s love for surface design, colourful patterns and nature is integral to her fabric designs and can be seen in every element of her work.

Each piece of Natasha’s artwork in our Fortnum & Makers space showcases a hand-painted botanical design that is appliquéd into a botanical scene, some of which have graced the Chelsea Flower Show and Belgravia in Bloom.

Emma Lacey - Ceramicist

Combining expertise in ceramic making skills with a sensibility for good design, Emma Lacey makes contemporary, functional ceramics which are joyful to use and will stand the test of time. Emma’s work celebrates the power of connecting the maker with the person using the object every day.

On display in the Fortnum & Makers space you’ll discover Emma’s ceramic mugs and, created exclusively for us, espresso cups in four different complementing colourways. Each mug features a unique dent design, inviting curiosity and touch.

Felicity Jones - Artist

Exclusively designed for Fortnum & Mason, the Felicity Jones Wild Flowers collection is inspired by the beautiful wild meadow flowers grown upon our London rooftops and features an array of tea and dinnerware.

The forna collected from our rooftops is pressed into the clay, before being hand painted creating a unique design different with every piece.

Jon Williams - Ceramicist

Ceramicist Jon Williams considers his practice as a means of storytelling and draws inspiration from commonplace drama, ritual and folklore. During his showcase in the QEST exhibition, Jon was the bestselling maker, selling 16 units of his ‘Milk Thief’ milk bottles.

Discover Jon’s ornamental ceramic milk jugs, each complete with a charming perching bird. His beautiful Camellia Bird jug is a Fortnum & Mason exclusive inspired by our Afternoon Tea ceramic ranges.

By Umberto - Artist

Artist, artisan & educator Robert Walker is a QEST scholar, based in Marsden, UK. Passionate about typography, craft, detail and keeping heritage skills alive, Robert began his artistic career as a sign writer and mural painter.

Trained in a multitude of craft techniques, Robert's specialty lies in the art of Verre Églomisé — once a commonly-used technique for signage, it is now an at-risk heritage skill, which involves the patient, painstaking application gold leaf onto the rear face of glass.

Flower and Press

London-based company, Flower and Press, are renowned for creating pressed flower artworks, stationery and large-scale installations using flowers that have been left-over from their weddings and events.

Committed to sustainability, everything is either repurposed or mindfully-sourced and foraged from their garden, or from the local hedgerows nearby.

Alice Funge Ceramics

Designed to add a touch of beauty and creativity to your home, Alice Funge creates all her products on the potter's wheel in her Warwickshire studio.

Hand-thrown using white stoneware clay and decorated using poured and splattered coloured slips and glazes, all her work features a word, a snippet or full handwritten recipe from her late grandmother’s collection. 

Izzy Letty - Ceramicist

Made to be held in the hand, designed to be interacted with, and crafted with the aim of becoming functional parts of people's daily lives, London-based potter making small batch tableware, Izzy's beautifully tactile pieces are made from stoneware clay thrown on the wheel and glazed in handmade glazes.

Awarded the Young-Artist-in-Residence at the prestigious Guldagergaard studio in Denmark, Izzy's craft journey has also been documented by BBC1’s ‘Make It At Market’ series (2023).

Ernest Wright - Scissor Making

One of the last remaining artisan scissor makers in Sheffield — the traditional heartland of British scissor production for centuries — Earnest Wright was established in 1902, and continues to use traditional crafting methods and equipment to this day.

In 2020, the Ernest Wright team received the Heritage Crafts Association’s inaugural President’s Award for Endangered Crafts, and today, the company is engaged in long-term projects to renovate its premises, maintain its antique equipment, and teach new putters-in-training the vanishingly rare art of traditional scissors-making.