Arts & Crafts Designers

Born in Glasgow, son of a policeman. At age sixteen he was articled in the office of Glasgow architect John Hutchison, studying at the same time at the Glasgow School of Art. There he came into contact with J Herbert MacNair and the Macdonald sisters, Frances & Margaret, the latter he later married. They exhibited together on a number of occasions including the 1896 Arts & Crafts Exhibition. In 1889 joined the firm of Honeyman & Keppie until 1913, becoming a partner in 1904. Most of his important arcitectural and decorative work was done during this time, including the famous Miss Cranston Tea Rooms and Hill House at Helensburgh. In 1896 won the competition for the building of the new Glasgow School of Art. He left Scotland in 1913, did very little work and in 1920 gave up his architecture and devoted the remainder of his life to painting.

CFA Voysey was the architect and designer son of the Rev. Charles Voysey, founder of the Theistic Church. After working as a pupil in the offices of JP Seddon, he set up his own office in 1882 and concentrated initially on decorative work, including his designs for fabrics and wallpaper. Joined the Art Workers' Guild in 1882 and built his first house in 1888, a commission for MH Lakin at Bishops' Itchington. He soon developed his characteristic style, linear, simple and hardly any surface decoration. In 1900 he completed his own house, The Orchard at Chorley Wood, Hertfordshire, for which he designed most of the furniture. In 1914 at the outbreak of WW1, his architectural practice virtually ceased but he took up decorative designs again in the 1920's. Voysey also designed metalwork, carpets and ceramics.

Walter cave was articled to Sir Arthur Blomfield and after a time spent travelling abroad set up his own practice in London in 1889. He was a member of the inner circle of the Art Worker's Guild and used forms of expression very close to those of CFA Voysey. Indeed in 1897 he took over one of Voysey's commisions, a house in Steatham Park, London. Other Voyseyesque houses followed but he later changed his style to a more French Classical look. He also designed furniture, light fittings and also painted.

Born in London, the son of a prosperous city merchant. Articled to GF Bodley between 1883 and 1885 and lived at the pioneer University Settlement at Toynbee Hall. Here he developed a Ruskin reading class, which developed into an art and craft class, which in turn became the nucleus of the School Of Handicraft (1887) and the Guild of Handicraft (1888).
The Guild is chiefly known for the metalwork and jewellery designed by Ashbee himself, and for the furniture and metalwork made for the Grand Duke of Hesse in conjunction with the designer MH Baillie Scott. The Guild moved to Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds in 1902. However the company was finally forced into liquidation in 1907. Ashbee continued with his architectural practice, and he designed two groups of houses in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea and a number of square houses in the country.

Born in Kent, the eldest son of fourteen children of a Scottish Laird. Originally sent to agricultural college, being groomed to take over the family holdings in Australia. However his aptitude for drawing led him to be articled to Charles Davis, Bath City architect. Married in 1889 and went to the Isle of Man and set up practice as an architect. There he met the designer Archibald Knox and later collaborated with him on the design and execution of stained glass, iron grates and fireplace hoods for the houses he designed there. In 1897 collaborated with CR Ashbee on the refurbishment of the grand Ducal palace at Darmstadt. In 1901 moved to Bedford, England and through the furniture manufacturer John P White issued a catalogue of furniture. This was retailed thorough Liberty's as well as White's own showrooms in Bond St, London. Retired in 1939.

Born in London, the son of a prosperous lawyer. Founder member of The Art Worker's Guild. Persuaded by William Morris in 1880 whom he had met at Oxford, to open a workshop in Hammersmith, London, specialising in metalwork. Moved to larger premises in 1882 and in 1887 opened a showroom in Bond St, London. His famous lamp and lighting designs were on show at Samuel Bing's Maison de l'Art Nouveau in Paris. Benson also designed wallpaper and furniture for Morris & Co, becoming their Managing Director in 1896. Also made furniture designs for JS Henry & Co. Retired in 1920.

Born in Glasgow, the son of an excise officer. Studied at the Government School of Design and then lectured at The Department of Science & Art at South Kensington, specialising in botany. Published a number of works, continuing to explore the relationship between botany and design with a later interest in Japanese art. In the late 1860's he included designs for furniture by Burges and Bruce talbert. In 1871 he made his first designs for the Coalbrookdale Co and then began designing for Elkingtons in 1875. He then went to America in 1876 and onwards to Japan, collecting examples of Japanese manufactures on behalf of Tiffany & Co of New York. He designed for various manufacturers in subsequent years, including Hukin & Heath, James Dixon & Sons, Ault, Linthorpe, Mintons, Benham & Froud, William Couper amongst others. His range of designs covered almost all aspects of interior design & furnishing.