STEPH BOWDEN HUGHES
Steph Bowden Hughes is a self-taught potter based just outside Stamford in rural Lincolnshire, UK. What began as a hobby quickly became an all-consuming passion — one that now defines her daily life and creative work.
Every piece Steph makes starts at the potter’s wheel: she throws and shapes each item by hand, bisque fires it, and then hand-glazes it before a final high-temperature firing. Working with black, grey and speckled stoneware clay as well as porcelain, she prefers clean lines and the contrast between raw, unglazed surfaces and simple, considered glazes. Most of her pieces are functional — plates, bowls and mugs designed for everyday use — though she also creates occasional decorative works.
Recently Steph has been exploring combinations of clay with natural materials like willow, enjoying the tactile interplay between smooth clay and rustic texture. Her work reflects a quiet commitment to craft, a love of process, and the individuality that comes from making by hand.
Steph’s ceramics are made in small batches in her studio; each is unique, marked by subtle variations that celebrate the handmade nature of her practice.
Services
Handmade wheel-thrown ceramics, each piece unique
Functional pottery for everyday use
Occasional decorative ceramic pieces
Custom / personalised commissions
Small batch wholesale & custom orders
Orders for restaurants and cafés
MATTHEW COX
Matthew Cox designs and makes furniture and lighting intended to be as essential and beautiful in one hundred years as it is today. Guided by a belief in materially and aesthetically sustainable design, the studio encourages thoughtful buying through pieces created with longevity, sensitive manufacture and careful aftercare at their core. Drawing on Matthew’s experience with antique furniture, each design reflects a deep understanding of materials, surfaces and how objects evolve over time.
Every piece is handmade, learning from the past to shape the future. Central to the studio’s thinking is a “100 Year Plan”, a commitment to support every piece well into the future. The framework supports a long lasting future for every piece, shaping how it is designed, made, maintained and ultimately repurposed, with the aim of extending its life for at least one hundred years. Matthew Cox became a certified B Corporation in 2024, achieving one of the highest B Corp scores for a furniture and lighting company in the UK and reinforcing a commitment to reducing demand on the planet’s resources through considered design and production.
Services
Furniture collections including tables, seating and storage
Lighting and mirrors
Bespoke furniture and lighting commissions
Re MC aftercare service
Antiques selected by Matthew Cox
