Welcome to The Collections Issue of Hole & Corner from Penguin Classics to pottery, jazz albums to fossils, everyone collects something. But it’s the passion behind those collections that really interest us in Issue 4 of Hole & Corner. Inside this issue, you’ll find a mixture of the enviable and the invaluable, the eclectic and the eccentric, with unique contributions by everyone from Tracey Emin to Paul Smith. Among the collectors we highlight are Dale Rogers, who travels the world acquiring fossilised crocodiles, dinosaur skeletons and petrified trees; David Herbert, whose home is a shrine to 20th-century ceramics; Ken Marten, who has helped to spearhead the revival in Victorian terrariums; and Jules Burt, aka Instgram’s @penguinbookaday. Elsewhere, we profile some of the best furniture designer makers in the world, including Wendell Castle, SCP founder Sheridan Coakley and Benchmark founder Sean Sutcliffe, and focus on the modern guardians of British manufacturing. We also explore the roots of creativity via a unique handwritten project, featuring exclusive contributions from some of our favourite people, including furniture maker Sebastian Cox, knitwear artist Donna Wilson, musician Oliver Coates, leatherwear designer Bill Amberg and Tracey Emin – whose very handwriting is a vital part of her art.
Our focus on creativity extends to Toby Lamb and John Spinks, the creative team behind an incredible 30 campaigns for Richard James. For jewellery-maker Linda Brothwell, her commitment to her creativity extends to the tools she forges herself, while, for gardener Keith Wiley, it’s the very landscape he shapes to create the perfect habitat for his plants. Photographer Backyard Bill turns his spotlight on the new breed of textile makers in the US, while we also dip a toe into the wild-swimming revolution and take a trip on the Fal with a Cornish oyster gatherer. Finally, Paul Smith allows us a peek inside his shed, where the magic happens…
Hole & Corner was launched in May 2013 as a lifestyle brand celebrating and promoting creativity, craftsmanship, heritage and authenticity through digital, print and events. The name is inspired by an old English phrase: ‘Hole-and-Corner: adj, a secret place or a life lived away from the mainstream’. It is about people who spend more time doing than talking, for whom content is more important than style; whose work is their life. It’s about telling stories of dedication. Hole & Corner magazine is published quarterly, dedicated to stories of craft, beauty, passion and skill. The website offers regular news, recommendations and interviews with those who embody the Hole & Corner lifestyle – and offers the opportunity to buy products from our featured makers or join them at live events where you can see their unique skills up close and even try your hand at workshops and learn from the best.