Beginnings

Jess, can you tell us a little about how you got started in your craft? Were there any early influences or moments that stand out?

I spent most of my twenties working across set design, floristry and decorative arts. Unwittingly, I was learning everything I would need to start my own standalone creative practice. Then, in 2019 I went to live on a farm in North Wales. Suddenly I had access to workshop space, tools, materials and endless, inspiring nature. My current practice started because I wanted a set of oak leaf candle sconces to flank our fireplace and it felt obvious that I should make them myself – so that’s what I did.

What does craftsmanship mean to you in today’s world?

Craftsmanship has always felt quite magical to me. It's about transforming inert, lifeless materials  into useful and beautiful objects with a spirit of their own. So craftsmanship is simultaneously about solving problems and doing it in a way that revels in skill and feeling. Tragically, mass production and digitalisation increasingly occupy the space that used to belong to craftsmanship. But at the same time it's heartening to see more people taking an interest in the handmade and making an effort to experience the wonder that good craftsmanship can bring. When I encounter a finely crafted object I feel grateful and excited to imagine the hands that made them and the decisions that were taken to produce it.

Working with And Objects

How did the collaboration with And Objects come about, and what made it feel like the right fit?

We're here for Craft Week, which says it all, really - like And Objects, we have a strong emphasis on finely crafted design. I'd met Martin (Brudnizki) before and was struck by his commitment to fine craftsmanship and using traditional materials in innovative ways so it couldn't be a better match. I'm not sure exactly how we decided to collaborate for Craft Week - perhaps it was inevitable! I loved Simon Collins's scagliola demonstration in the shop last year, and it turned into a conversation about bringing our Dorset workshop to London.

Why is London Craft Week special to you, and why do you think it’s important to celebrate craftsmanship in this way?

Craft week is an opportunity for more people to feel that sense of wonder and gratitude. The range at this year's Craft Week is quite amazing - potters, cabinetmakers, milliners, puppet makers, glassblowers, textile artists and more, all coming together to share their craft. There are so many opportunities to be amazed at the highly specialised skills that go into all of those crafts. It's also a wonderful chance for us to meet the interested public and get them interested in our work.

Mostly I work in a secluded cow barn, and this week I get to meet clients and get excited about new ideas, commissions and projects in person. I love that craft week shows craftsmen and non-craftsmen alike just what it takes to hand produce an incredible piece of design.

What can you tell us about the pieces you're making at the workshop this week?

Over the past few months at the studio we've been experimenting with new materials, including something we're calling bronzed plaster. It's an interesting mix of plaster and bronze with some exciting applications. This week, with my partner Eddie, I'll be assembling a bronzed plaster ivy sculpture, which will hopefully snake across the wall of And Objects by the end of the week.

Tell us about the pieces on display—are you showcasing anything new and exciting you can share?

We've brought some of our mainstays with us - wall lights in plaster and bronze, and a selection of wearable pendants in bronze and silver. In addition, I'm very excited to be showing off some of our newer designs. We 're showing our first collection in steel, comprising a floor lamp, chandelier and wall light inspired by clematis vines. I've also recently launched our new grape vine wall lights, whose light gently sifts through its plaster grape leaves. We've also hung a new branch chandelier in brass and steel from the ceiling - the new owner kindly allowing us to showcase it before it gets shipped off to its final home in New York.

Jess Wheeler Studio will be showcasing their workshop until May 16 2025. For more information on Jess' beautiful pieces, visit her website and instagram page.