Every month, we bring you an update about what’s new and exciting at Cockpit. From stunning products to intriguing projects to inspiring brand partnerships, here are the latest developments from our makers.
Cockpit takes on Homo Faber 2026
Six Cockpit makers are heading to Venice for this year’s Homo Faber! Vanessa Hogge, Darren Appiagyei, Ömer Öner, Mark Nuell, Lucille Lewin, and Eleanor Lakelin will all be showcasing their work at the international celebration of contemporary craftsmanship.
Darren, Lucille, and Vanessa will also feature in Homo Faber’s immersive artist studio experience, with videos capturing them at work from a bird’s-eye perspective, offering a glimpse into the hands and processes behind their pieces. Meanwhile, Mark Nuell will take things a step further with live gemcutting demonstrations on 14 and 17 September, taking precious stones through the principal stages of his process.
Darren Appiagyei, 'Painted in Fire Vessel: Oak Burr'. Photo by Jenny Catlow.
Omer Oner, 'Swan'.
Lucille Lewin. Photo by James Champion.
Woo Jin Joo's creatures go to the V&A
‘A Long Long Time Ago’, Woo Jin Joo’s first large-scale sculpture, has been acquired by the V&A as part of its East Asia Collection.
After appearing in exhibitions including the Hari Art Prize and The Art Station, the sculpture has now found a permanent home where, as Woo Jin puts it, it can “surprise, enchant, and make people smile”.
Learn more about Woo Jin’s practice and check out her first solo exhibition, ‘Bodily Inbetweenness’, opening at Ruup & Form on 11 September.
Woo Jin Joo in her studio at Cockpit Deptford. Photo by Jamie Trounce.
Woo Jin Joo, 'A Long Long Time Ago'.
Mark Nuell's family story — told through gems
Cockpit leatherworker Yusuf Osman has swapped his usual workshop for the sands of St Andrews Beach, joining ‘Race Against the Tide’, a BBC series hosted by Iain Stirling, where seven teams race to create spectacular sand sculptures before they are washed away by the tide.
Yusuf teamed up with professional sand sculptor Johannes Hogebrink for the challenge, taking on a completely new material and working against the clock – and the tide.
Yusuf Osman and Johannes Hogebrink. Image courtesy BBC / Tern Television / Kirsty Anderson.
A September of textiles at Cockpit
Cockpit textile makers are keeping busy this London Textile Month. This weekend, Hannah Refaat, Kim Sutherland, and Joanne Lamb are joining forces with Selvedge Magazine for a two-day workshop exploring embroidery, weaving, and embossing, where participants will experiment with different techniques, visit the makers’ studios, and leave with a collection of experimental samples and a resolved textile artwork.
Knitwear designer Nicci James will also be screening ‘The Value of British Wool’, a short film following her work with rare and native breed wool. And over at Outhouse Gallery, Ted Tinkler’s ‘A longing swell(s)’ will bring together knitted lace and found ceramic fragments, drawing on the history of Shetlandic wadmaal taxcloth to explore queer ecology, land justice, and trans liberation.
Hannah Refaat, work deatil. Photo by Alun Callender.
Nicci James, work detail. Photo by Alun Callender.
Nicci James, work detail. Photo by Alun Callender.
Discover Cockpit makers in Condé Nast Traveller
Two Cockpit makers, woodturner Darren Appiagyei and rush basketmaker Ella Merriman, have been featured in the September issue of Condé Nast Traveller as part of its feature on the makers behind the new craft revival, from London to the Amazonian Peru and the Himalayas.
The article takes readers inside their Cockpit studios, exploring Ella’s experimental approach to rush basketry and Darren’s beautifully pared-back woodturned vessels.
Ella Merriman in her studio at Cockpit Bloomsbury.
Darren Appiagyei in his studio at Cockpit Deptford. Photo by Brian Boden.
Cockpit Awards & Bursaries are open for applications!
Thinking of applying to an Award or Bursary at Cockpit this autumn? Join us for an Awards Open Day on 15 September at Cockpit Deptford.
This is an opportunity to find out more about Cockpit, hear from some of our current Awardees, and ask questions about joining Cockpit on an Award. With applications for six Cockpit Awards open until 27 September, this is the perfect time to discover how an Award or Bursary can benefit your creative practice.
Caitlin Maxwell Hughan in her studio at Cockpit Deptford. Photo by Jamie Trounce.
Ted Tinkler in their studio at Cockpit Deptford. Photo by Jamie Trounce.
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