Photo by Lucy Arscott
Flitch Creative
Designer • Maker • Digital Fabricator
I design and make thoughtful objects that combine traditional craft with digital fabrication. Through experimentation with materials, process and technology, I create products, furniture and installations with sustainability at their core.
Selected Projects
A selection of commissions, exhibitions and ongoing explorations.
Creative Intersections Day 2026
I’m excited to be taking part in Creative Intersections Day 2026 on Saturday the 7th of November at Market Hall, Devonport, Plymouth.
I’ll be sharing my work exploring how traditional craft and digital fabrication can come together, including 3D printed papermaking moulds and deckles, custom watermarks, screen-printing tools and printmaking.
I’ll be demonstrating some of these processes throughout the day, so come along, have a look and say hello!
Rising Print – A Love Letter to Paper x
‘A love letter to paper x’ was selected for the Rising Print exhibition at Haus des Papiers, Berlin, the world’s first museum dedicated to contemporary paper art. Chosen through an open call by the Open Press Project, in collaboration with Pressing Matters and Schmincke, the piece was made using a 3D-printed Open Press, bridging traditional printmaking with digital tools. It features an embossed background on handmade paper, a printed letter on Somerset, and a hand-cut envelope embossed on Fabriano Rosaspina. Laser-engraved acrylic plates were used to emboss, merging digital and traditional techniques. A literal and metaphorical love letter to paper, the work celebrates the material’s beauty, texture, and meaning. On display from 12 December 2025 for six months.
Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) Awards
What a privilege for Susan Hooker and I to create the awards for the 2025 Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) Awards, recognising the dedication, innovation, and impact of PML staff in advancing ocean science.
PML commissioned these bespoke trophies; each piece was handcrafted using locally sourced materials, combining thoughtful design with a commitment to sustainability.
It’s been a joy to collaborate on a project that celebrates both people and the planet, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a meaningful event.
A big thank you to PML for your trust, support, and generous feedback. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!
Handcrafted Awls
Something I’ve been working on recently and hope to explore further, developing my metalworking skills, restoring old metal into new tools, and combining this with my love of woodworking.
Each awl is made from a variety of mixed woods and scraps I’ve saved over time. Tiny pieces of colour, slivers of veneer, and hardwoods I couldn’t bear to throw away, especially yew, one of my favourites. They all come together in these small, meticulous creations. The steel points and copper ferrules are reused or salvaged wherever possible, lovingly restored, sharpened, polished, and heat-treated by hand (ground, quenched, tempered).
They’re beautiful little tools, crafted with care and character, and perhaps just a bit too pretty to use.
Crowning Edgcumbe
I’m thrilled to share that Crowning Edgcumbe is now on display in the beautiful Knot Garden outside Mount Edgcumbe House! It will be there until at least the end of this year!
This hand-carved wooden crown, inlaid with open-cast glass jewels, rests on a plinth of stacked blocks; some wooden, some white concrete and glass. It celebrates the enduring love story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and their memorable visits to Mount Edgcumbe aboard their Royal Yachts.
The crown and wooden blocks were crafted from reclaimed submarine docking blocks from Devonport Dockyard, engraved with the years Queen Victoria visited Plymouth Sound and Edgcumbe — including 1833, when she came as a princess with her mother!
The green and white glass in the blocks, inspired by the emerald and diamond tiara designed by Prince Albert (one of Victoria’s favourite pieces), was made using crushed, local end-of-life glass, including a large donation from The Upcycled Glass Company!
Eco Plywood Stools
These stools have been entirely made of offcuts and scraps of various plywoods; mainly birch, hardwood, and marine, but basically anything that has been reused from the wood workshop bin!
Jo Nudd, who I first met nearly 4 years ago in Extended BA, approached me to make her a pair of stools for her final degree show, so she can weave the tops. She is an incredible textiles student who works with biomaterials, as well as sustainable and natural materials, so I was excited to work with her. I suggested the idea of laminating all the scraps I had been saving, making it an eco-friendly stool with mixed woods and tones, which she loved. The final results are a pair of functional yet really individual and attractive stools.
Finish What You Started
Speculative Strategies: I began this unit looking at carpenters pencils; leading to antique silver pencil holders from a time when pencils were treasured, unlike today, where they are seen as disposable. My work focused on adding value to pencils and encouraging users to ‘Finish what they started’
I crafted an oversized oak pencil with ebony inlay, and laser-engraved it. I also letterpress printed the phrase, before enlarging it and reprinting it on a risograph printer. I handmade an oak frame for the print, using reclaimed oak from a table leg.
Additionally, I designed a 3D-printed IKEA pencil holder, inspired by how they are seen as disposable pencils. The holder fits most hexagonal pencils and allows users to reuse even the shortest stubs. The design is open-source, enabling anyone to value their pencils by attaching them to lanyards, bags and more.
Oversized Pills
Dr. Paul Clark, a retired palliative care doctor who completed his Master’s in Painting at Arts University Plymouth in 2024, commissioned me to create a unique set of pieces for his work exploring the intersection of art and medical science. I find it especially rewarding to craft objects for fellow artists, as it presents creative challenges that push me outside my usual practice.
I made the oversized pills (the largest being 30cm) from pine, chosen for its affordability and workability. While pine can be tricky due to its softness, making it prone to denting and scratching, I took great care in turning and sanding the pieces to ensure they were smooth enough for Paul’s paint job. One highlight of the project was crafting the large paracetamol tablets. Using a router table to create a detailed groove before turning the tablets, adding a distinctive touch to the finished work.
Bespoke Roller Handle
Designer/Maker Matt Holmes AKA Holmesylogic commissioned me for a bespoke handle for his printmaking roller. Something which of course I jumped at the chance to do. Matt works at FabLab Southwest at Arts University Plymouth, while studying for a PhD at University of Plymouth. He is exploring the craft of letterpress & printmaking in the 21st century. I would describe him as the master of all things wood, 3D, CAD, letterpress, print and a bit of pretty much everything else.
To create the handle for the roller, working in my usual style, I incorporated several types of plywood and a range of coloured veneers into this piece. Then deciding to go off-piste, I added cedar, teak, and yew as well, before adding a vibrant touch of pink and blue SpectraPly. The handle was made to the required size with a hole drilled to 6mm for the roller to be attached. It was finished with several coats of spray varnish.
Follow me, Jo at Flitch, on Instagram!
Here you will see my latest project, makes and general day-to-day creativity!
