From the lathe to the living room

Emily Rowley is a recent recipient of the Turners Award at Cockpit Arts, given by the Worshipful Company of Turners. Her furniture starts at the lathe, and she wants it to belong in a gallery as easily as in a living room. We asked her three questions.

What has the award given you?

Access to a professional studio and workshop facilities, alongside business support to develop my practice. Cockpit is an incredible space filled with very knowledgeable people creating a whole range of crafts. I took part in the Make it Count series of workshops and found them all really helpful and insightful for my business and the way I can approach it.

What draws you to turned furniture and organic forms?

My work is rooted in traditional craft skills, which I blend with modern machining to create unique pieces which could belong in a gallery as easily as a living room. In simple terms, when I make a chair I want people to be struck not only by its innovative forms but also by how comfortable it is to sit on. I see woodturning as an important foundation for my furniture, a starting point from which I can develop more organic forms.

What are you working on next?

I am focusing on experimenting on the lathe and developing ideas for turned wooden lamp bases. My interest in combining sculptural forms and function makes table lights feel like a natural extension of my previous work. Having previously made larger pieces, I would like to develop these experiments into a collection of smaller, more accessible products for interiors.

The photographs show the Moonlight Bloom collection, which Emily made during her studies at West Dean College and which was on display at Future Icons Selects in May.

Emily Rowley at Cockpit Arts