Tenterden High Street shop's 'meet the makers' dedicated to local artists
Made By Bayliss & Co stocks handmade homeware, ceramics, art, vintage and more
A new independent shop on Tenterden High Street will be aiming to support a collective of local craftspeople and artists, selling ‘good things made by hand’.
Made By Bayliss & Co (@baylissandco) opened in June 2023, and run by husband-and-wife team Martyn and Beth Bayliss, where shoppers can ‘meet the makers’ in store, with the different artists and makers available to chat to the people buying their products, explaining the inspiration and processes behind what they’ve created.
Products include a mixture of hand-made homewares and interior pieces, from plates, mugs, hand-forged knives and chopping and serving boards to bespoke furniture, ceramic sculptures, original artwork, leather goods, books and vintage items.
Martyn said: "After the success of our original pop-up shop ‘Bayliss & Thompson’ in Cranbrook last year, we decided to invest in a bigger premises to showcase and support even more makers. We’re incredibly excited to have made the move and bring our hand-crafted products to Tenterden. Not only have the local community been incredibly supportive, but we’ve also had some great feedback on what we’re selling and the style and design of the shop itself.’’
Beth added: ‘We’re hoping that the shop is a space in which we inspire people with gorgeous things that make their home just that little bit more special. Our makers are locally based, brilliant craftspeople and wonderful individuals who are great to work with, so the more we can support them in their creative endeavours, the better.’
From the original four makers at launch, Made By Bayliss & Co currently stocks 12 different craftspeople and artists, with other makers due to appear in-store in the coming months. There are also plans for in-store maker-hosted events in the run up to Christmas.
Current makers / artist details:
Made By Bayliss (www.madebybayliss.co.uk) is Martyn’s business, located in Frittenden. He has been working with wood for the last ten years, with a focus on furniture and more recently, after working with several local chefs, home and kitchenware.
Antonia Thompson Ceramics (@antonia_thompson_ceramics). Based near Staplehurst, she has been making for the last six years (she has had her own studio and kiln for four years) and specialises in utilitarian and decorative ceramics.
Bill Talbot (www.billtalbot.com) is a multi-disciplinary artist. With his studio in Ticehurst, he is mainly a figurative painter, although his work covers printmaking, design, illustration, graphic and street art along with corporate commissions.
Kate Rundell (www.katerundell.uk) mostly works in pen and watercolour, sometimes with oils and loves making collagraphs. She’s an artist based in Tenterden and creates wonderful miniature dry point pictures.
Helen Jewsbury (insta: @helenjewsbury7399) is a clay artist who hand builds human and animal figures that aim to make the viewer smile. She has exhibited all over Kent and has been obsessed with clay for the last eight years.
Dominic Raval (insta: @domravdesign) is a designer and maker who is currently focussing on knifemaking. With his own unique style of marrying metal with wood and recycled plastic handles, his products are balanced, well-crafted and a joy to use.
Helen Jukes (www.allsaianddone.co.uk) makes incredible hand poured rapeseed and coconut candles and wax melt bouquets. Her love of candles and the peace and joy they bring sparked an interest that soon turned into a business, which aims to bring a little luxury and calm into people’s day.
Vicki Disney (https://www.vickidisney.art/) is a contemporary artist who takes her wonderful bright, bold abstract paintings and prints them onto gorgeous hand-made velvet cushions. The perfect way to incorporate original art into your home in an unusual - and very comfortable - way.
Dominic Wilson (Insta: @summit_leather_) makes stunning leather wallets and card holders. Different styles are created in different colourways, proving a unique way to keep your cards and cash safe. Plus the leather is undyed, so it just gets better with age and the more you use it…
