Woodworker Sophie Sellu of Grain & Knot on sourcing sustainable timber to create objects that celebrate the organic forms of nature
In our new film series Modern Makers, we’ve been meeting some of the most exciting artisans working today, from a glassblower creating mesmerising colourful objects to a ceramicist inspired by the storylines of biology. In this next episode, we visit the home-cum-studio of woodworker Sophie Sellu, founder of Grain & Knot, in Penge, south east London. Watch the film here.
Something that many of us are guilty of is spending too much time absorbing the artificial glare of a screen. It was this habit in particular that drove Sophie Sellu to explore various creative pastimes in an attempt to reduce her own screen time, one of which was a spoon-carving course, which she started in 2013. Instantly enticed by the tactile nature of woodwork, Sophie returned home with an axe and knives and began carving in her spare time, capitalising on its therapeutic qualities. “It’s a really mediative process,” she explains, “you get lost in it.” Later that year, she launched Grain & Knot, a line of functional and delightful hard-carved objects – from butter spreaders to sculptural vases.
As someone who trained in interior design, Sophie knows the benefits of surrounding yourself with beautiful items at home. “Having something that makes you smile every time you look at it or use it – that’s great,” she says. Sophie’s pieces might lift the spirits for the following reasons: inspired by nature – something she greatly appreciates – the pleasing, organic forms are utterly joyous, and, as she only works with reclaimed, sustainably sourced or storm-fallen timber, her items are crafted with the environment in mind. “Using wood that would otherwise be deemed as waste is a really nice part of the process because it gives the piece a life,” she says. Sophie even uses leftover woodchips to make compost for the garden.
As no two pieces of wood are the same, Sophie takes time to understand her material. “You really have to work with the wood,” she explains. “You need to see which way the grain runs and where your knife can take off the bits you need it to.” She made the conscious decision to leave knife marks in her work, a detail, she says, that draws you in and makes you want to touch. “On every piece, there’s an element of showing my hand.”
To discover more about Sophie’s creative techniques and sustainable practice, watch the film here. While you’re there, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to see new episodes as they come out, and don’t forget to check out the rest of our Modern Makers series.
RELATED ON THE MODERN HOUSE
Furniture designer James Shaw on the unconventional beauty of his surreal, colourful objects made from waste plastic
Tapestry weaver Christabel Balfour on the art of improvisation and the simplicity of her modern designs
Ceramicist and scientific researcher Abid Javed on finding inspiration from the visual spectacle of molecular biology
Modern Makers: the mesmerising craft of Jochen Holz’s idiosyncratic glassware