Maker’s Choice – Rebecca Ozkural

My name is Rebecca Ozkural and I am an artist specialising in pastel paintings of wildlife and Pets. I draw the inspiration for my paintings from my great love of animals and nature.

I was born in Canada and grew up in the mountains, surrounded by nature and natural beauty. I grew to have a deep respect and love for all the animals I was surrounded by-be it the many pets I had the joy to call my own or the wild birds, bears, moose, wolves and other great wildlife I would encounter on a regular basis.

I strive to capture the spirit and personality of every animal I paint. Only the highest quality materials go into my products, from the pastels and paper used to paint the original works to the locally made giclee prints.
You can purchase A3 or A4 prints of my works which would make a great gift for loved ones. I also sell cards of my prints which are on luxurious card stock and make lovely Christmas cards to give your friends and family.

I offer commissions if you would like to get an original painting of your beloved family pet, and my original wildlife paintings are also available for purchase if you would like to own some original artwork.

I love this painting of this little plumbeous water redstart. This little bird has a lot of personality and I'm quite proud I was able to capture his attitude and movement.

For me inspiration always comes from nature-and luckily London is teeming with gorgeous parks. I love to go for early morning walks in Regents Park and I spend a lot of time there watching the various birds. If I am lucky I might spot one of London's many foxes, and of course it's always enjoyable to greet the dogs their early morning walks.

Rebecca is at Homeworks on Sunday 9 December.

Maker’s Choice – Deborah B Design

Deborah B is a London-based multi-skilled artist and award winning designer and maker. Working with precious metals, leather, stones and glass, she designs and makes jewellery and accessories. inspired by nature, shapes and colours, she hand-weaves white gold for her engagement, wedding and eternity rings line ‘White Gold Stone’:

Deborah has chosen her ‘Golden Moon’ leather hand-crafted earrings as her favourite product and she’ll be bringing these and more of her unique designs to Homeworks on Sunday 9 December:

Come and meet Deborah at Homeworks Sunday 9 December.

Maker’s Choice – Theresaceramica

My name is Theresa Edwards, I trained in fine art painting followed by a post diploma in ceramics, then spent many years working in the animation industry.

When computers took over from arty types like me, I left and picked up my love of working in ceramics again.

I’m coming to Homeworks on Sunday 9 December with a selection of my hand built plates and other work.

I’m very fortunate to have a studio and kiln in my garden where I make hand built earthenware pieces, some suitable for domestic use and others more ‘ornamental’.

I love the decorating process – using hand cut paper stencils, wax resists, slips and underglaze colours – all before the first firing.

A second clear glaze firing ensures the colours are safe for domestic use.

Hard to say where I find inspiration – my imagination just flows along – I hardly ever sketch or plan a design, they just take shape on the damp clay.

I suppose nature plays a large part. I’m fortunate to be able to spend time in the country and by the sea in Cornwall.

Fantasy and colour seem very important to me! Increasingly so, as shown in the bowl I’m holding in the photograph, a very recent work which I’m very pleased with!

Come and meet Theresa at Homeworks on Sunday 9 December.

Maker’s Choice – Lizzy Chambers

Lizzy Chambers is a designer and creator of exquisite glass jewellery.

She has a passion for colour and growing beautiful natural things.

Her collection includes a beautiful botanical range of flowers and seeds that are grown in her own garden and from a farm in the North of England.

Her keepsake jewellery has a hint of nostalgia and fairy tales, giving it that magical feeling.

Lizzy's favourite product is the crystal pull through earrings, they add a little bit of glamour to your outfit and are super comfortable to wear too. She’ll be bringing them to Homeworks and Lizzy will probably wearing a pair too! 

Lizzy find's inspiration in places that you might not expect and normally when she isn't looking for it too. Whilst taking walks, browsing her favourite gardening magazines, taking a shower is sometimes the best place for a new idea!
Come and meet Lizzy at Homeworks on Sunday 9 December.

Maker’s Choice – Nina Nou

I am an illustrator and designer and run the brand Nina Nou, I work from my small studio in East London.

I make and sell art prints, stationery, children’s books and textile products:

I work alongside my faithful dog Ziggy who often features in my designs.

I would like to nominate my brand new cotton woven throws as my favourite product. The design ‘Persia’ was inspired by my half Persian roots.

The animals in the design are taken from Persian carpets, apart from Ziggy who makes an appearance on there too!

These woven throws are perfect as blankets, bedspreads, or can be used as wall hangings in kids’ rooms. They are made by a small family run mill in North Carolina in America and are spun and woven from 100% cotton.

I’ll be at Homeworks on Sunday 2 December, see you there!

Maker’s Choice – Rebecca Denton

I’m Rebecca Denton and I’m a painter/printmaker based in North London. I create unique, handcrafted prints and original illustrations.

I’m coming to Homeworks on Sunday 2 December with a selection of my prints and etchings.

I exhibit all over the UK, have work archived in the V+A and my etchings can be seen permanently at the Southbank Printmakers Gallery.

I work from my own rough sketches and ideas, combining various techniques.

I do love to create etchings and combining this ancient form of printmaking with original ideas. I enjoy every step of the process... from redrawing my pencil sketch onto a grounded zinc plate to adding various techniques for tone and texture.

The most exciting part is pulling the first print, as the result can be quite unexpected! The plate is inked for every print in the small edition making each one truly unique.

 

My favourite place to find inspiration:

Everywhere really... my sketchbook, imagination, holidays and childhood memories.

Come and meet Rebecca at Homeworks on Sunday 2 December.

Maker’s Choice – Dorothy Stiven

Homeworks regular Dorothy Stiven is back again this year with a selection of her carefully sourced one-off vintage finds. She’ll be at Homeworks on Sunday 2 December:

I started selling antiques and vintage when I was working in television and my daughter was at Malorees School in Queens Park. What started as a hobby has now become my business...I sell at Fairs all over the country, on Instagram @dorothystiven and at my stand at Station Mill Antiques in Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire.
I am also the co-organiser of The Reclaimed Home Fair in the Cotswolds.

I love the hunt involved in finding old things...it may be dark and cold at 5am at a brocante in France, at a trade fair on a racecourse in the U.K, or in a field at an antiques show in rural America but I still get a thrill in discovering treasures

It might be a torn old patchwork quilt, a tatty painting or a dirty old pair of candlesticks but I get a thrill in cleaning them up and seeing the beauty in them.

My customers, I would say, are those who love their homes, but are not bound by what is only mass produced or available on the high street.

I feel that by buying antiques and vintage you are not only reclaiming your home but also you are doing the planet a favour by not adding to landfill.

But paramount is that everything I sell is beautiful as well as useful!