Close-up of a hand holding a paintbrush, painting pink outlines on a pink and white patterned surface with a blue and yellow patterned fabric nearby.
Art studio with paintings, art supplies, and paint cans.
A collection of paintbrushes and art supplies on a table, with a person painting in the background.
An artist sitting on a small wooden stool in a gallery or studio, sketching on a large pad of paper. Behind him are two large, colorful paintings with abstract, geometric designs. The artist is wearing a black cap, white T-shirt, and tan pants, and is barefoot. There is a wooden easel and a rolling cart in the background.

James McEwen Hood - Artist

Ericeira - Portugal

James paints cities that might or might not have existed, buildings that exist between the blurred boundaries of history, reality and fiction.

A person with curly hair and a beard, wearing a baseball cap, standing inside and looking out a large window at a rural landscape with fields and hills under a blue sky with scattered clouds. They are holding a paint swatch fan card and a paintbrush.
Paintbrushes in a glass on a wooden table with art supplies and a palette with paint in the background.
A man seated on a wooden chair in an art studio, sketching on a drawing pad. Behind him, there are two colorful abstract paintings on the wall, featuring geometric shapes, arches, and checkered patterns. An easel and a rolling cart are nearby.

James McEwen Hood - Artist

Ericeira - Portugal

James paints cities that might or might not have existed, buildings that exist between the blurred boundaries of history, reality and fiction.

A person with tattooed arm holding a paintbrush, painting a pink and white spotted pattern on paper, with a background of colorful patterned papers.
A person with tattooed arm holding a paintbrush, painting a pink and white spotted pattern on paper, with a background of colorful patterned papers.
Close-up of various paintbrushes and art supplies in jars, with a blurred artist in the background.
Close-up of various paintbrushes and art supplies in jars, with a blurred artist in the background.
An art studio with paintings on the wall, paints, brushes, and stools on the floor.
A man with a beard, wearing a white t-shirt and a black baseball cap with yellow text, is decorating a cake with a small candle on top.
A man with a beard, wearing a white t-shirt and a black baseball cap with yellow text, is decorating a cake with a small candle on top.
An art workspace with paintbrushes in a glass, acrylic paints, and a paint palette in the foreground, with an art poster on the wall in the background.
An art workspace with paintbrushes in a glass, acrylic paints, and a paint palette in the foreground, with an art poster on the wall in the background.
A man with long hair and a beard wearing a black cap with yellow text and a white shirt, standing indoors with colorful artwork in the background.
A man with long hair and a beard wearing a black cap with yellow text and a white shirt, standing indoors with colorful artwork in the background.
Person standing by an open door or window, looking outside at a landscape with hills and fields, holding a tablet or notebook.

James Otter - Otter Surfboards

Cornwall - England

The boards are beautiful and long-lived, and a good deal kinder than the foam and resin most of us ride. People arrive knowing nothing about joinery and leave with something they made themselves, working with natural materials the whole way through.

A man wearing a light gray shirt and orange apron working with wooden parts in a woodworking shop.
Two wooden surfboards leaning against a wall and a blackboard with surfboard design instructions and sketches.
Two wooden surfboards leaning against a wall and a blackboard with surfboard design instructions and sketches.
A person wearing a light gray shirt is cutting a piece of light-colored wood with a black and yellow hand saw that has a red logo on the blade. The person's hands are visible, with a wedding ring on the left hand. The background shows a wooden surface and a blurred, brownish floor.
A man making a wooden surfboard inside a woodworking shop with blue doors, wooden boards, and a chalkboard sign promoting making your own wooden surfboard and other items.
A man in a woodworking shop, wearing a light blue shirt and brown apron, working on a wooden project at a workbench. The wall behind him is covered with various hand tools hanging on a pegboard, including saws, chisels, and clamps.
A man in a woodworking shop, wearing a light blue shirt and brown apron, working on a wooden project at a workbench. The wall behind him is covered with various hand tools hanging on a pegboard, including saws, chisels, and clamps.
A person holds a wooden level with a ruler marking up to 5, inspecting a wooden honeycomb-shaped structure in a workshop.
A person holds a wooden level with a ruler marking up to 5, inspecting a wooden honeycomb-shaped structure in a workshop.
A man with brown hair and blue eyes wearing a gray shirt and a beige apron, standing in a woodworking workshop, holding a tool in his right hand, with wood and woodworking equipment in the background.
A man standing barefoot in front of a large wooden garage door, holding a long wooden surfboard, with a weathered gray wood exterior and a small security camera above him.
A man in a wetsuit holding a surfboard stands barefoot on a dirt path amidst wildflowers on a hillside under a cloudy sky.

Ruby Taylor - Native Hands

East Sussex - England

Ruby makes pots and baskets from clay and plant fibres she forages locally, and teaches other people to do the same. The work is a quiet argument about materials: where they come from, how they are gathered, and the knowledge that gets lost when nobody makes anything by hand.

A woman with wavy brown hair standing outdoors among green foliage, looking up thoughtfully into the distance, wearing a dark blue top and silver jewelry, with sunlight filtering through the trees.
A woman sitting outdoors in a forest, weaving with straw, surrounded by baskets and natural materials.
A woman sitting outdoors in a forest, weaving with straw, surrounded by baskets and natural materials.
Close-up of hands weaving a basket from straw or similar material.
Close-up of hands weaving a basket from straw or similar material.
A woman kneeling on one knee outdoors in a wooded area, holding a bundle of sticks and burning them with smoke rising. She is wearing a dark shirt and jeans, with her hair tied back, and is looking upward. In the background, there are baskets and more sticks on the ground.
A collection of woven baskets on the forest floor in a sunlit wooded area.
Close-up of hands holding a ceramic bowl, with a blurred natural background.
Hands shaping wet clay on a work surface in a pottery workshop.
A woman sitting on a wooden bench next to a campfire in a forest, with a backpack and basket nearby.
A collection of clay bowls in a forest setting, with small branches and leaves on the ground.
A close-up of a campfire with burning logs, glowing embers, and a ceramic pot in the foreground.
A collection of vintage woven and wooden tools and containers on a wooden surface.

Nigel Legge - Traditional Withy Lobster Pot Maker

Cornwall - England

Nigel is one of the last fishermen still making traditional withy lobster pots, woven from willow grown in the same woodland his father took his from. He learned at fifteen, when it was less an art form than a requirement. "If you didn't make pots, you couldn't go fishing."

An elderly man with white hair and a beard sitting inside a craft workshop, holding a woven willow lobster pot. The workshop has paintings of ships on the walls, traditional willow lobster pots and materials scattered around.
A bundle of brown willow wood sticks leaning against a dark wall and some scattered sticks on a concrete floor.
A bundle of brown willow wood sticks leaning against a dark wall and some scattered sticks on a concrete floor.
A small orange Cornish fishing boat sailing near rocky cliffs with green vegetation on top, under a cloudy sky.
A small orange Cornish fishing boat sailing near rocky cliffs with green vegetation on top, under a cloudy sky.
A yellow house with a sign that reads 'Leggy's Studio' and features a fish illustration. Several wicker baskets are arranged on the ground in front of the house.
A yellow house with a sign that reads 'Leggy's Studio' and features a fish illustration. Several wicker baskets are arranged on the ground in front of the house.
A rustic wooden weaving shuttle with rusted nails, surrounded by dried willow stalks on a beige fabric background.
A rustic wooden weaving shuttle with rusted nails, surrounded by dried willow stalks on a beige fabric background.
Close-up of hands weaving natural and industrial materials into a craft basket, with various woven strips and tools visible.
An elderly man with white hair and glasses sitting on a wooden stool, weaving a basket in a rustic workshop filled with wicker and natural materials.
A person is using red-handled wire cutters to cut a woven wicker basket framework. The person's left hand holds the framework steady, while their right hand operates the cutters. The person is wearing a black sleeve and a blue wristband, and their lap is visible with jeans. The background is a gray, smooth surface.
A person is using red-handled wire cutters to cut a woven wicker basket framework. The person's left hand holds the framework steady, while their right hand operates the cutters. The person is wearing a black sleeve and a blue wristband, and their lap is visible with jeans. The background is a gray, smooth surface.
Paintings of boats at sea on a white wall, wicker baskets on a rustic wooden table, and a white container with paint tubes on the floor.
Paintings of boats at sea on a white wall, wicker baskets on a rustic wooden table, and a white container with paint tubes on the floor.

Miguel Saboya - Furniture Craftsman

Lisbon - Portugal

Miguel designs and makes furniture in a small workshop in Lisbon, and his pieces sit in restaurants and shops across the city, including Sem and Loja de Cá. I photographed the work being made, then again in the places it ended up.

A man sitting on a wooden chair in a room with wooden planks leaning against the wall.
Man assembling a wooden piece, working on a carpentry project in a workshop.
Man assembling a wooden piece, working on a carpentry project in a workshop.
Man using a pencil and a square ruler to mark a piece of wood in a woodworking workshop.
Man using a pencil and a square ruler to mark a piece of wood in a woodworking workshop.
Stacked wooden drawers in a woodworking shop with tools hanging on a pegboard in the background.
Stacked wooden drawers in a woodworking shop with tools hanging on a pegboard in the background.
A person using a hand plane to smooth a piece of wood in a woodworking workshop.
A person using a hand plane to smooth a piece of wood in a woodworking workshop.
A cozy seating area with a wooden table, a plant in a gray pot, a beige cushioned bench, and decorative pillows. The wall features a textured stone pattern with wall art including a toucan and a tribal mask.
Woman with dark hair, sitting at a wooden table in a cozy cafe, smiling and holding a white coffee cup, with a large potted plant on the table and more plants in the background.
Woman with dark hair, sitting at a wooden table in a cozy cafe, smiling and holding a white coffee cup, with a large potted plant on the table and more plants in the background.
A wooden table with a pen, a small tool, and a cloth placed on top, situated on a hardwood floor.
A wooden table with a pen, a small tool, and a cloth placed on top, situated on a hardwood floor.

Valentina Amaral - Embodied Food

Lisbon - Portugal

Valentina is a food ecologist working with koji, the mould at the root of miso, soy and sake. It needs warmth and stillness held steady over days, which is a slow, attentive kind of making, and it sits at the centre of how she thinks about food, health and the living world around us.

A woman with brown hair tied in a bun, wearing a blue t-shirt and silver jewelry, holding a large wheel of cheese wrapped in paper and towel, standing in a room with wooden decor.
A woman in a dark dress with tied-back hair is kneeling on the wooden floor and holding a wooden tray of flour in front of a wooden shelving unit. The shelves contain a white cloth and a wooden spoon, and a weighing scale and electrical device are on the floor.
A woman in a dark dress with tied-back hair is kneeling on the wooden floor and holding a wooden tray of flour in front of a wooden shelving unit. The shelves contain a white cloth and a wooden spoon, and a weighing scale and electrical device are on the floor.
A person is opening a small drawer in a wooden cabinet, with a tray of flour on the countertop above.
A jar of homemade cheese with a handwritten label, placed on a wooden surface against a plain wall, next to a wooden tray with a piece of cheese on it.
A jar of homemade cheese with a handwritten label, placed on a wooden surface against a plain wall, next to a wooden tray with a piece of cheese on it.
Close-up view of a wooden tray filled with white koji rice grains, with a wooden frame around it.
Close-up view of a wooden tray filled with white koji rice grains, with a wooden frame around it.
Interior view of a room with a wooden koji cabinet holding jars and a beige upholstered armchair. A decorative textile with gold floral patterns hangs on the wall, and a slanted wooden ceiling is visible.
A woman with a bun hairstyle and wearing a dark teal dress holding a wooden tray with koji rice inside. She is standing in a room with a wooden floor and a wooden Japanese Koji cabinet

James Otter - Otter Surfboards

Cornwall - England

The boards are beautiful and long-lived, and a good deal kinder than the foam and resin most of us ride. People arrive knowing nothing about joinery and leave with something they made themselves, working with natural materials the whole way through.

A woodworking hand plane tool resting on a piece of light-colored wood with wood shavings nearby.
A man with a beard and mustache wearing a light gray shirt and a brown apron, holding wooden furniture parts, standing in a workshop with several surfboard decks stacked vertically in the background and a blackboard with handwritten notes.
Woodworking project in progress with multiple clamps holding parts of a wooden frame on a workbench.
Person holding a wooden level measuring tool in a woodworking shop, with more similar tools on a table and a pegboard with hanging tools in the background.
A man standing barefoot on a dirt trail in a field of wildflowers, holding a wooden surfboard under his arm with a cloudy sky overhead.
James Otter Planing a Wooden Surfboard in his Workshop, Cornwall, UK
A woman with wavy brown hair wearing a dark blue dress with a necklace, standing outdoors among green foliage, looking up with a thoughtful expression, illuminated by sunlight.

Ruby Taylor - Native Hands

East Sussex - England

Ruby makes pots and baskets from clay and plant fibres she forages locally, and teaches other people to do the same. The work is a quiet argument about materials: where they come from, how they are gathered, and the knowledge that gets lost when nobody makes anything by hand.

Person holding a clay pot outdoors in a natural setting.
Hot end of a campfire with glowing red and orange embers, burned wood, and ashes surrounding it.
A woman seated outdoors in a wooded area, weaving with straw or reeds, surrounded by baskets and woven materials on a table covered with burlap fabric.
Person mixing or shaping a large lump of clay with their hands on a wooden surface.
Close-up view of a fire with burning logs, some of which are ceramic or stone, with bright orange flames and glowing embers.
A woman sitting by a campfire in a wooded area, with a picnic basket and bag on a wooden bench behind her.
Collection of small wooden bowls, some with carved patterns, on the ground among dirt, twigs, and leaves, with a background of larger twigs and branches.
Close-up of hands weaving a basket from straw or reeds, with a woven basket in progress.
Colorful sign reading 'Leggy's Studio' with a fish illustration, yellow wooden building exterior with wicker baskets on the ground, and a window above.
A small orange boat with people on board navigates near a rugged rocky coastline. The cliffs are steep, dark, and layered with sparse vegetation, extending into the ocean with a lighthouse top visible on the hill above.
An elderly man with a beard and grey hair, wearing a navy sweater and jeans, sits in a workshop surrounded by woven baskets and art on the walls. He is holding a partially finished wicker basket and smiling at the camera.

Nigel Legge - Traditional Withy Lobster Pot Maker

Cornwall - England

Nigel is one of the last fishermen still making traditional withy lobster pots, woven from willow grown in the same woodland his father took his from. He learned at fifteen, when it was less an art form than a requirement. "If you didn't make pots, you couldn't go fishing."

Person working on weaving a large wicker basket using pliers.
An elderly man with white hair and glasses weaving a wicker basket in a cluttered workshop with a surfboard hanging from the ceiling.
Close-up of a wooden tool with a long handle, resting on beige fabric, with a bundle of thin, dried, brown and green plant stems nearby.
A bundle of brown straw or sticks leaning against a wall, with a few scattered on a concrete floor.
Wall-mounted paintings of sailboats and the sea, a wooden shelf with wicker baskets, a rustic wooden workbench with a log, and an electrical outlet with a plug. Art supplies and tools can be seen.

Miguel Saboya - Furniture Craftsman

Lisbon - Portugal

Miguel designs and makes furniture in a small workshop in Lisbon, and his pieces sit in restaurants and shops across the city, including Sem and Loja de Cá. I photographed the work being made, then again in the places it ended up.

Valentina Amaral - Embodied Food

Lisbon - Portugal

Valentina is a food ecologist working with koji, the mould at the root of miso, soy and sake. It needs warmth and stillness held steady over days, which is a slow, attentive kind of making, and it sits at the centre of how she thinks about food, health and the living world around us.

The Cruz Family - Masters Weavers & Natural Dyes

Teotitlán del Valle - Oaxaca, Mexico

Fidel Cruz Lazo and María Luisa Mendoza weave Zapotec wool rugs at Casa Cruz, coloured only with natural dyes: fruit, flowers, minerals, clay, insects. The old recipes were lost long ago, so Fidel worked his way back to them himself. Their youngest, Luis David, is learning the dyes now, cochineal among them.

Renan Castilhos - Artisan Baker

Santo Isidoro - Ericeria, Portugal

Twelve years learning the craft, much of it in Copenhagen, before the ocean pulled Renan south to Santo Isidoro, inside Ericeira's World Surfing Reserve, where he opened a bakery. Two years on it still has no name, and the queue still runs around the front of the building.

Renan Castilhos - Artisan Baker

Santo Isidoro - Ericeria, Portugal

Twelve years learning the craft, much of it in Copenhagen, before the ocean pulled Renan south to Santo Isidoro, inside Ericeira's World Surfing Reserve, where he opened a bakery. Two years on it still has no name, and the queue still runs around the front of the building.