Our Story

The Beginning

From Kitchen Table to Creative Haven

Handcrafted Studio began in 2018, not in a proper workshop, but squeezed between a refrigerator and a window in a cramped London flat. The founder, after spending a decade in advertising, found herself increasingly drawn to making things with her hands during evenings and weekends.

What started as personal therapy soon attracted curious friends who wanted to learn. Those kitchen table sessions, chaotic and wonderful, planted the seed for something larger. The realisation was simple: many people crave the satisfaction of creating tangible objects but lack the space, tools, or guidance to begin.

By 2020, despite the challenges of that particular year, the studio found its permanent home in Clerkenwell. The neighbourhood, with its history of watchmakers and jewellers, felt fitting for a space devoted to craft.

Bright workshop studio with natural light and work tables

What We Believe

Principles That Guide Our Practice

Process Over Product

The finished object matters, but not as much as what you discover while making it. We celebrate imperfection as evidence of the human hand at work.

Slowing Down

Our workshops deliberately resist hurry. Each session allows ample time for experimentation, mistakes, and quiet focus without clock-watching pressure.

Inclusive Learning

Skill level never determines value. Our studio welcomes absolute beginners alongside experienced makers, each learning from the other.

Honest Materials

We source materials thoughtfully. Sustainably harvested wood, ethically produced leather, responsibly mined metals. The origin of what we use matters.

Natural Light

Our studio was chosen for its generous windows. Natural light reveals true colours, reduces eye strain, and connects the indoor work to the rhythms outside.

Community Building

Beyond individual learning, our studio fosters connection. Many lasting friendships have formed over shared worktables and tea breaks.

The Space

A Workshop Designed for Making

Our Clerkenwell studio spans two floors of a converted Victorian warehouse. The main workshop floor accommodates multiple disciplines simultaneously, while the upper level houses our ceramics studio with dedicated wheels and kilns.

Every detail serves a purpose. Wide work benches allow generous spreading of materials. Pegboard walls keep tools visible and accessible. A small library corner holds reference books on craft techniques spanning centuries.

Six pottery wheels and two electric kilns
Dedicated metalsmithing area with ventilation
Full leatherworking station
Wood carving benches with tool storage
Comfortable break area with kitchen facilities

Well-equipped craft workshop with organised tools and materials

Our Instructors

Skilled Hands, Patient Teachers

Each of our workshop leaders maintains an active personal practice alongside teaching. They bring current, living knowledge rather than dusty textbook instruction.

I trained in Stoke-on-Trent before studying contemporary ceramics in Japan. Teaching allows me to see familiar techniques fresh through beginner eyes, which keeps my own work honest.

Hannah Greaves

Ceramics Lead

Leather craft found me during a career break. Twenty years later, I still feel the same excitement cutting into a new hide. Passing that feeling to students is the best part of my week.

Marcus Chen

Leather & Textiles

Workshop experiences vary based on individual participation and skill development. Information on this page reflects the studio as of the current season. Instructor availability may change without notice. Please contact us for the most current details regarding specific workshops and scheduling.