From endangered heritage skills to bold contemporary artwork, this inspiring space celebrates craftsmanship, creativity and the joy of making by hand. We meet a selection of resident makers whose work you can discover on site.
Emily Hurst – Millinery
Emily Hurst is a luxury milliner specialising in the critically endangered craft of straw hat plaiting. Working with wheat straw, she transforms raw agricultural material into elegant, sculptural hats, each one hand-plaited and stitched using a traditional 17th-century hat machine.
Her work bridges heritage and modern fashion, with pieces recently featured in the 2026 Royal Ascot Collective and showcased at London Fashion Week. Emily is currently the Young Makers Resident at New Brewery Arts, where visitors can see works-in-progress, experimental designs and vintage machinery in action.
Her studio reflects a creative journey still evolving — a space she describes as “creative chaos” rooted in craftsmanship and discovery.
“There is something incredibly fulfilling about being a maker… especially when it means helping to revive heritage crafts that may otherwise be lost.”
Don’t miss: Seeing straw transformed into contemporary fashion headwear, right before your eyes.
Ruth Martin – Textiles & Interiors (Baskerville & Jones)
Ruth Martin of Baskerville & Jones creates beautifully handmade home furnishings, including cushions, lampshades, table linens and upholstery. Her work is rooted in sustainability, using natural materials to create pieces designed for comfortable, considered living.
Inspired by the historic interiors and landscapes of the Cotswolds, Ruth’s designs often reflect natural forms and soft, organic patterns. Her studio is both a working workshop and welcoming space where visitors can browse ready-made pieces or discuss bespoke commissions.
Alongside her craft practice, Ruth also runs workshops and advocates for the therapeutic value of sewing and traditional skills.
“I love creating handmade home furnishings to make everyday life more comfortable and beautiful.”
Don’t miss: Bespoke home interiors crafted with sustainability and individuality at their core.
Tracey Elphick – Mixed Media Artist
Tracey Elphick’s studio is a vibrant celebration of colour, texture and place. Working in paint and collage, she creates expressive artworks inspired by street scenes, landscapes, still life and the natural world.
Much of her work draws on the Cotswolds itself, from Cirencester Market Place to Tetbury and Cheltenham, often incorporating local materials and text that reflect a sense of place. Her abstract landscapes are inspired by regular walks through the surrounding countryside.
Visitors can expect a warm welcome and a constantly evolving studio filled with paintings, prints, cards and homewares.
“My studio is my sanctuary… a vibrant space where I can create, meet people and constantly explore new ideas.”
Don’t miss: Her joyful depictions of Cotswold towns, full of colour and character.
Liz Valenti – Paper Collage (Sticky Paper Studio)
Liz Valenti of Sticky Paper Studio creates striking three-dimensional paper collages inspired by fashion and costume design. A former fashion designer, she now works exclusively in paper, crafting garments, shoes and sculptural forms from carefully sourced materials collected during her travels.
Her signature pieces include framed paper garments and delicate shoes displayed under glass domes, including playful designs made from Tunnock’s Tea Cake wrappers. Each piece reveals extraordinary attention to detail, transforming everyday materials into wearable art.
Visitors to her studio will find a constantly evolving display of ideas, textures and techniques, reflecting a highly original approach to contemporary craft.
“Visitors to my studio almost always delight in the attention to detail and say they have never seen any work like it.”
Don’t miss: Her intricate paper shoes, miniature works of fashion art.
Visiting New Brewery Arts
A visit to New Brewery Arts offers the rare chance to step behind the scenes of working studios, meet makers in person and see traditional and contemporary crafts being created in real time.
Whether you’re looking for a unique gift, a bespoke commission or simply inspiration, each studio offers something completely different, all rooted in skill, creativity and storytelling.
