Hopewood | Sarah Loughlin + Marcus Wootton
Hopewood is an art & craft studio collective established in 2021 by Sarah Loughlin and Marcus Wootton. Rooted in traditional basketry techniques, their practice spans woven sculptural vessels and contemporary functional baskets, all made in their studio in the Wyre Forest, UK.
Drawing from their backgrounds in fine art, antiques, and photography, along with inspiration from the natural world, the duo blend art and craft to create woven objects. This cross-disciplinary approach allows them to create sculptural pieces that elevate living spaces, alongside functional works designed to add beauty, tactile richness, and intentionality to everyday tasks.
Sarah Loughlin
Sarah Loughlin (b. 1986, Worcester, UK) is an artist and basketmaker whose practice spans sculptural works and functional basketry. Her work is distinguished by curved silhouettes and architectural patterning, balancing structure with fluidity. Rooted in close observation, her daily walks inform her creative process — the rhythms, repetitions, and quiet geometries of the landscape finding expression through woven form.
Loughlin studied Fine Art at UCA (Canterbury, UK), graduating in 2007. She discovered basketry in 2018 and went on to complete a City & Guilds in Basketry at Westhope College (Shropshire, UK) in 2022. In 2023, she was awarded a QEST Emerging Maker Award, enabling a two-year period of advanced training with master basketmaker Jenny Crisp.
Selected Works
Marcus Wootton
Marcus Wootton (b. 1983, Worcester, UK) is a basketmaker whose practice is rooted in sustainability, longevity, and careful craftsmanship. He creates woven willow objects designed to be both functional and enduring—pieces made with intention, integrity, and a respect for the material.
Before turning fully to making, Wootton worked in antiques, sourcing and restoring historic objects for collectors. This experience sharpened his eye and deepened his understanding of how things are constructed. Photography further trained him to observe closely—studying proportion, detail, and the subtle qualities that give objects presence and character.
These foundations continue to inform his basketry. Specialising in the traditional ‘hoop and scallom’ technique, Wootton produces strong, purposeful forms that balance utility with refined detail. Working with willow using hand tools and traditional methods, he honours the lineage of craftspeople who came before him while creating work suited to contemporary life.
