Function & Form

My first book Wood & Bristle is coming this summer! . What a wild ride! Can’t quite believe I am now holding my own book in my hands… and soon you will be able to also! . Publication date is 28th July for USA, 28th August for UK and 28th September internationally. Pre - order available now from my website! . In the UK you will be able to buy through Waterstones online, various independent retailers and bookshops and Amazon. . I will be doing a handful of talks around the UK to introduce the book to audiences - keep an eye on the website for dates and locations. . If you or anyone you know is interested in getting into working with wood or bristle, you might just find this comprehensive guide the perfect place to start. . #firstbook #publicationdatesoon #preorder #brushmaker #woodworker

Take a breath and slow down with me in the workshop. There is nothing I love more to relax than watching other people make/mend/fix things with their hands. If you’re the same as me then you’re in luck! . Maybe that’s why I do what I do for a living - an attempt at a constant supply of relaxation in watching my own hands at work…? . This batch of dustpans will be going places… The first is down to @hepworthwakefield for their 15th birthday celebration. The second is down to London for the New Naturals exhibition with @jenhaslamstylist @anothercountryltd and @planted_community . Enjoy the minute of hopefully relaxing content to start your Friday off right! . #handmade #artisan #woodworker #metalwork #brushmaker

15 years of the Hepworth Gallery! Celebrations incoming! . Come along to Makefield to celebrate the 15 the birthday of the Hepworth Gallery. It’s a pleasure to be part of the line up for the weekend! . Dates are: Friday 22nd May 7-10pm (Preview) Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th 10am - 5pm . It’s going to be a lovely weekend in the tile yard full of brilliant makers and celebrations! Come along and see what I have been working on recently - and see the book in person! . #hepworthgallery #hepworthmakerfair #woodwork #brushmaker #yorkshiremakers

: DAY 5 - A maker I am proud to own : . I think this is my favorite of all 5 days - celebrating the other members of the @find.amaker family! Look at these lovely pieces I have and enjoy every day. . @sophiesnowtextiles - I have a couple of lovely Sophie’s pieces and I absolutely love them! Cant wait to add more to my collection! . @badger_house_leather - One of many pieces my husband and I have had from Liz over the years! I use it most days and always get compliments on it! . @anguswoodblacksmith - A lovely tactile, sculptural piece from Angus that has such a satisfying weight to it - love! . This is the final day of @find.amaker week today! I hope you enjoyed a peek into my days, my work and my inspiration! . #findamakerweek #makeruk #woodworker #womeninwoodworking #brushmaker

Handmade in York. We have new homewares in the STUDIO. All made by local artists. 🌿 Find us on Scarcroft rd, York. Just by @bishyroad 🤍

: DAY 4 - Before & After : . Here are some quick shots of how the material comes to me, and what I make it into. Everything that I use is a sustainably sources as possible, using offcuts of wood and metal from other makers and machinists, and fibres are all plant based and biodegradable. . It’s quite satisfying looking at the bundle of materials you can turn into something useful and beautiful! . #brushmaking #woodworker #metalwork #findamaker2026 #womeninwoodwork

: DAY 3 - A day in the life : . Every day is different and that’s what I love about being a maker! Today I was working to make Darning Discs for the lovely Skye @slowstitchclub . It’s always lovely working together with other makers on projects. . It’s @find.amaker week this week and this is my day 3 - a day in the life. As you can see my life basically is making and the dog - and I’m pretty happy with that 😂! . #woodworker #turning #handmade #womeninwoodwork #brushmaking

: DAY 2 - Inspiration : . Here is a snippet of what inspires me in my work: - Being in nature, wild swimming especially, you don’t get much closer to being absorbed in nature than that! - Art, specifically sculpture, and I’m immensely lucky to have places like @hepworthwakefield and @yspsculpture on my doorstep! - Walking, being with the doggo and the husband and having nowhere to be but just walking! - Teaching, I love running my workshops around the UK and the beautiful souls I meet at every workshop inspire me. - Working with my hands, an odd one but it keeps me so grounded in the world and I love it! . It is @find.amaker week this week and this gives you a little insight into how I work and what my making life looks like! I hope you enjoy! . #artisan #brushmaker #woodworker #findamaker #findamakermember

It’s Find A Maker Week! : DAY 1 - MY STORY : I’m delighted to be part of the Find A Maker family. If you haven’t met me before - Hello! I’m Sophia, the designer and maker behind Function & Form. I grew up in North Yorkshire watching my mum and dad make things! My dad is still a sculptor and my mum, now an Art Psychotherapist, at the time was a textile artist. I feel I’ve spent most of my life in workshops and they are where I am grounded and happiest. . I studied at @leedscollegeofart for Foundation and @falmouthuni for my BA. I spent most of my time in the workshops, working to form materials such as metal, stone and wood. After graduating in 2019, I worked with the brilliant @temperstudio to train in Joinery before starting Function & Form. . After spending 10 years in Cornwall and Somerset, Yorkshire tempted me back and I now make all my work on the edge of the Wolds, just outside York. I travel the UK exhibiting and selling work and running workshops in traditional craft and am VERY excited to be releasing my first book this summer - a project book encouraging people to pick up the tools and feel the empowerment! . Thanks so much to @find.amaker and @craftfestival for all the great work they do! . #findamaker #craftfestival #findamakerweek2026 #womeninwoodwork #brushmaking

We sold out! So we have added another workshop on 9th May at the lovely @studiobyrockgarden . Come along on the 9th to learn the traditional technique of binding brushes by hand! . The new workshop will be in the morning 10 - 12.30 and has already booked up fast so head over to the website to book the last 2 tickets if you’re keen! . #brushmaking #workshop #craftskills #craftworkshop #york

I have so much to say I’m not sure how to say it all … so I’m going to do bullet points! - My first book ‘WOOD & BRISTLE’ is now available to pre-order via my website! Thanks to those who have already ordered their copy! - The SPRING COLLECTION is going live on the website this afternoon! Go have a browse of all the bits that have been out of stock since Christmas! - I am delighted to be showing my work at the lovely @studiobyrockgarden for @yorkopenstudios this weekend, so if you’re local, go have a browse! Can’t wait to share photos with you of my new book - my advance copy on its way to me as I type and I can’t wait to share what I have been working on with you all. #newbookalert #woodworkbook #artisanmaker #traditionalcraft #collectiondrop

Thank you to the lovely @hepworthwakefield for hosting a lovely chilled weekend this weekend. I’m so delighted to have been a part of this with such brilliant, beautiful neighbours like @hannahnunnstudio @saltandco.studio @nataliebellceramics as well as yummy @fennells.co keeping us topped up with delicious treats! . Thanks again to all the lovely visitors and I can’t wait to see you all next time. . Barbara Hepworth is such a huge inspiration and it’s such an honour to have my work even in the same building as hers. I was lucky enough to have some time to see the current exhibitions on this weekend and it’s always a joy. . #hepworthwakefield #eastermarket #yorkshiremakers #bankholidayweekendplans #woodworker