Handmade London: photographs of the city’s artisan scene

‘Camilla Goddard is the founder of Capital Bee and has been producing delicious honey from her hives across South and Central London for over 10 years. As well as her own sites in Greenwich Park, Brockley, and London Fields she has set up and manages apiaries in St James’ Park, Soho, Notting Hill, Covent Garden, Kensington, Barnes, and Russell Square. Capital Bee won Lewisham’s most sustainable business award in 2013 and Brockley Honey is ranked within London’s top ten honeys by Time Out. You can find Capital Bee honey at A Gold’s Delicatessen in Spitalfields, as well as Broca Market Shop in Brockley, El’s Kitchen in Ladywell and Café Crema in New Cross.’

‘Ole Hansen is the driving force behind Hansen & Lydersen, making some of the finest smoked salmon available in the capital. Ole is following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather Lyder-Nilsen who set up a salmon smokery in Kirkeness in northern Norway in 1886. His grandfather Leif Lydersen took over the reigns in 1962 and now, having skipped a generation, Ole has re-started the company here in London four years ago. He now supplies Selfridges as well as several discerning restaurants around the capital. You can also find him on Saturdays at Broadway and Maltby Street markets.’

‘From his workshop in Clapton, James Kennedy assembles stylish urban single speed bicycles to order under the watchful eye of his gentle Great Dane, Huxley. His mission is to spread the cycling bug by providing attractive, affordable bikes for people who haven’t yet taken the plunge. He hand selects the components and offers a variety of colours and styles. By only selling direct through the website he can keep overheads low, allowing him to invest more in the quality of the components for each bike. Since he opened for business at the start of the summer things have taken off and he is now building over 10 bicycles a week.’

‘Simon Goode, lecturer in book arts at London University of the Arts, runs the London Centre for Book Arts from his print studio in Hackney Wick. Having filled the former peanut factory with restored printing presses, letterpress machines and proofing presses, he now creates bespoke hand made books for private clients. He also runs printing and bookbinding workshops for those who would like to make their own. Simon printed the cover and bound the pages of the Handmade London book.’

‘Since 1987, Rob Court has been fashioning bespoke neon lights for a discerning customer base of artists, architects, designers and gallerists. From his workshop in Walthamstow he strives to keep this 100 year old neon glass blowing craft alive and innovative. With the use of fire, rare gases and luminous phosphors he creates wonderful colours and turns thin tubes of delicate glass into beautiful glowing works of art. Rob is proud to note his pieces can now be found in the collections of celebrities, world leaders and even royalty.’

‘Michael Ruh and his wife Natascha met in the 1990s while studying glass blowing in Belgium. After starting out on their own in 1999 they now operate out of their own dedicated studio in Tulse Hill. Their beautiful pieces are created with nothing but heat, gravity, time and a few simple tools that haven’t changed for centuries, and are inspired by the colours and textures seen while travelling across the wilderness of the US in their camper van, ‘Woody’. With a 1100°C furnace of molten glass it’s hot work, but their distinctive pieces are now sought out by commercial and private clients across the globe.’