Ickworth Exhibition 2025 - Leatherwork and Bookbinding

Continuing our spotlight on the upcoming summer exhibition at the Ickworth Estate, we focus on two disciplines rooted in heritage: leatherwork and bookbinding. 

 

The exhibition features three skilled leatherworkers, each bringing a distinctive perspective to this time-honoured material. Mark Papworth, a master of English leatherworking, creates functional pieces with clean, simple lines and meticulous hand-stitching. With a strong focus on durability and longevity, Mark draws on traditional tools and methods to craft timeless accessories and also restores cherished leather goods. He also shares his knowledge through courses from his home in rural Suffolk, continuing the craft’s legacy through education. 

 

Raeleen Gladwell blends classic craftsmanship with modern design, using high-quality British leather to produce functional, heirloom-quality pieces. A former teacher turned maker, she continues to evolve her practice by experimenting with marbled leather—adding a unique, expressive element to her work while maintaining a deep respect for traditional techniques. 

 

Sarah Woodcock creates elegant, practical leather pieces that are made to be treasured and grow more beautiful with use. Formerly a curator for the National Trust, she has returned to a family tradition of craftsmanship, producing timeless items with the highest-quality natural materials, designed to last and be passed down through generations. 

 

The bookbinding artists at this year’s exhibition likewise demonstrate a deep reverence for materials and structure, combining historical techniques with contemporary innovation. Paul Garcia creates intricately hand-sewn leather-bound books, often adorned with gold leaf, decorative edge treatments, and silk endbands. His work pays homage to classical bookbinding, while embracing unique designs that evolve throughout the making process. Occasionally, Paul rebinds old books, breathing new life into neglected volumes and preserving their stories. 

 

Noreen Grant brings an inventive approach to the craft, using traditional and Japanese techniques to create artist books with hidden pages, removable spines, and layered visual narratives. Her work blends printed imagery, custom-made boxes, and a range of tactile papers to transform each book into an interactive, sensory object—evoking curiosity, reflection, and discovery. 

 

More information here >>