Milieu Studios

Milieu (noun) The pieces that create the environment in which someone acts or lives. With so many new faces joining this journey, I thought now might be a good time to share a little more about the story behind Milieu — and why this project came to life. Some of you may already know me as @carolinerobinsonartist . Until recently, most of my time was spent running a magical restaurant and organic garden with my husband @jeffreyrobinson.chef and our young family — while also painting in the margins, exhibiting my work nationally, and soaking up the beautiful, chaotic life we were somehow making together. When that chapter came to an unexpected close, I found myself at a crossroads. Do I return to hospitality? Or was this the moment to pause, reflect, and consider a new path? Art has been a constant in my life. From visiting galleries as a child to quietly building my own practice, it’s always brought me joy. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to cross paths with artists and makers who continue to inspire me with their vivacity, skill, and creativity. My love of curation and living with art, was sparked during our time running our restaurant. I realised just how much joy I took from creating a space that felt warm, characterful, and inviting — a space that told a story. And so, from these threads — the relationships, the shared appreciation of craft, and the belief that it’s the simple, personal pieces that truly shape a space — Milieu was born. Fast forward to today, and here we are — following that vision, taking a leap of faith, and building something that we hope reflects all of those values. Milieu is a place to support and showcase the work of artists and craftspeople who pour their hearts into what they do. People who are quietly shaping beauty, every day. Together, they help us shape our spaces too — because at the heart of it all, that’s what this is about: Making a house, a home.

Amabel Barraclough is a self taught ceramicist and gardener based in Stroud, where she lives with her partner and two daughters. Her pieces aim to capture a kind of beauty that is full of energy and power and embraces imperfection. The roughness and rawness in the process of making embodies Amabel’s ideas about strength and love especially in the context of motherhood. She is drawn to imagery from mythology and folk art that transmit a feeling of magic, humour and freedom. Her work plays with symbol and association and celebrates a joyful connection with nature; the human body leaping and falling in space and animals as little Gods - as knowing and watching beings. We’ve been so pleased to welcome four pieces from Amabel in our current exhibition. Head to the website or visit us in person to enjoy her work further.

Stacey Gledhill Everything At Once Oil and Charcoal on linen 2026

Ruby Bateman - Hermit II ‘Hermit II’ is a deeply introspective work, drawing on the symbolism of the Hermit archetype from the major arcana tarot. Rendered in earth pigments, natural acrylic medium and honey watercolour on wooden panel, the painting reflects themes of retreat, solitude and self enquiry, the quiet yet transformative spaces we enter in order to recalibrate and return renewed. Rather than dramatic upheaval, the Hermit represents something more inward-facing: a pause from the noise of the world to reflect, gather understanding and confront the hidden parts of the self. The work asks what might be revealed in moments of isolation, and what wisdom or clarity we are able to carry back with us afterwards. For Ruby, the Hermit also mirrors the creative process itself, the solitary act of making, searching and reshaping experience into something meaningful. Sensitive and meditative in both material and subject, ‘Hermit II’ speaks to the deeply personal nature of transformation, and the quiet power found in stillness and reflection.

Sophie Wake - Ancient Terracottasphere 2026 Hand-built terracotta ceramic with raw umber ⸻ We are absolutely thrilled to be presenting a sensational collection of ceramics by Sophie Wake in our current exhibition, What the Hand Knows. Sophie’s ceramics are deeply tactile, masterfully made, and full of wonder and spiritual energy. A warmth emanates from the body of clay; there is a real sense of movement, positivity, and reflection present when engaging with her work. Both her paintings and ceramics have captured the attention of collectors internationally, with her practice becoming increasingly recognised and highly regarded. If you haven’t yet experienced Sophie’s work in person, we would highly recommend visiting the gallery whilst these pieces are on display. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss the work in more detail or learn more about her practice.

Ruby Bateman joins us in our current exhibition, What the Hand Knows. Ruby’s work is sensitive and entirely unique. Her considered painterly line work and depictions of form are alluring, soft, and sympathetic to the subjects and characters she portrays. Themes of motherhood, ancestral lineage, relationships of care, and the bonds formed through family and community run deeply throughout her practice. She works with natural materials, processing and producing her own mediums from pigments and raw elements found in nature. These ancient methods are carried out slowly and methodically, bringing another dimension and sense of intimacy to the work itself. Oak gall ink, honey-based watercolours, rice wax crayons, and oxides all contribute to the rich materiality present throughout her paintings. We recently spent time speaking with Ruby and have shaped our conversation into a deeply personal interview, which we’ll be sharing on our website later this week. Here is one response in particular that beautifully captures the emotional memory and tenderness that evoke her to paint: What do you hope people feel, think, or remember when they experience your work? “I definitely wear my heart on my canvas in my work. I hope people can feel my sincerity and tenderness when coming to my images. I aspire for them to be beautiful and speak to vulnerability and our connections to each other and the Earth with awe and magic. I have known artwork to touch me on a soul level. There are some pieces that can vibrate truths, sensations of deep knowing and otherworldly perceptions which astound me. I can’t claim my work to be on that level, but each time I make I hope to tap into an authentic transmission.” Explore more of Ruby’s available works on our website or visit us in the gallery. Please do get in touch if you’d like to speak further about her practice and paintings.

Jessica Tremaine - ‘Introduction’ Bowl 2026 Hand-made ceramic stoneware H: 7.5cm x W: 24cm

Sacred Ceremonial Goblet By Sophie Wake 2026 Hand built stoneware ceramic with black copper oxide, sandblasted H:13 cm x W:10 cm For more information contact [email protected]

So many beautiful ceramics in the gallery right now. We really love the individuality that comes through in working with clay, and the unique approaches each artist brings to the medium.

Stacey Gledhill — Shapeshifting 2026 Oil and charcoal on linen 55 × 40cm — A wonderful example of Stacey’s painting practice, featuring light, painterly brushstrokes contrasted against the delicate texture of fine linen. Her expert use of colour and ability to capture fleeting moments within her world gives the work a remarkable sense of atmosphere and sensitivity. The quality of Stacey’s work is second to none — from the thoughtful use of traditional materials to the beautifully considered framing, each element contributes to a timeless piece to be enjoyed for many years to come. Get in touch if you’d like to learn more about Stacey’s practice and available works.

We’ve had such a wonderful response to our current exhibition, thank you for all your support and interest. The display brings together a collection of fascinating and truly unique artistic practices, and it’s been a pleasure to see so many of you connecting with the work. Pop in to explore the exhibition and learn more about the artists, or get in touch if there’s a piece you’d like to know more about.

The two faces behind the emails and phone calls. Hannah and I are a small (but perfectly formed) team. She joined me in the latter part of last year for one day a week, bringing exactly the energy I needed at such a formative stage of Milieu. Some of you may already have met us in person at the London Art Fair or while visiting the gallery, though we know many of you shop with us from overseas or further afield and haven’t yet had the opportunity. In the spring, Hannah joined me full time, which has allowed us to extend our opening to seven days a week — giving more opportunity to spend time with us in the gallery and explore the art and exhibitions we curate. Alongside the gallery we are both practising artists in our own right, and I hope that brings a level of care and understanding to the way we work with our artists. Creating partnerships that reflect the kind of support we would value ourselves. We also hope it allows us to offer a thoughtful and informed experience for our clients, helping create a closer connection to the work when you visit the gallery or trust us to help source a piece that resonates with you. Next month, Hannah will be sharing a collection of her work with us for the first time. I’m really looking forward to representing her paintings and introducing her beautiful work within the gallery space. For now, simply a hello and thank you from both of us. Caroline & Hannah 📷 @frankiethomasphotography