Named for its origins as a 17th-century cockfighting arena, Cockpit began in 1986 as a cluster of five workshops in Bloomsbury, providing a vital launchpad for unemployed makers looking to build craft businesses. Today, Cockpit is internationally acclaimed for both preserving heritage techniques and fostering the vanguard of contemporary craft.
We have grown so much over the last forty years, and this anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate Cockpit’s history, our collective achievements and lay the foundations for an inspiring next 40 years.
Financial Times Interview
To mark this milestone, I was recently interviewed by Kate Youde of the Financial Times (look for the feature on May 15th) about the unique ecosystem we’ve built here.
Cockpit is often described as a "hidden gem", an essential powerhouse of London’s craft, art and design scene.
In the interview, we discussed the vital role Cockpit plays as an "invisible cultural infrastructure" for London - a vibrant ecosystem where 175 emerging and world-renowned makers create. It was a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on our studios as a global destination for collectible craft and design, where the boundary between technical mastery, craft and fine art dissolves.
To the outside world, Cockpit is a much-admired craft business incubator and multiple-time winner of Social Enterprise of the Year. To those of us who work here, it is a sanctuary, an unparalleled community of 175 independent makers across our Bloomsbury and Deptford sites.
While we have long been a destination for collectors of independent, individually crafted objects, Cockpit remains a hidden discovery in the heart of London. It is here that curators and collectors, interior designers, and aficionados in-the-know come to scout for the next generation of talent or catch up with and acquire works by renowned craftspeople.
Cockpit Open Studios – Welcoming you in
Our Open Studios (held in early June and the last weekend of November) are a convivial invitation into our world. You can wander between workshops, talk directly with the artists, and see the tools and "thinking" that go into every piece. The range is extraordinary: you can find a unique, affordable gift for £25 or a museum-quality sculptural work - and everything in between.
You can discover emerging talents as well as renowned makers whose works you might recognize in:
Major Fairs: Collect, TEFAF, PAD, FOG Design+Art San Francisco or Goldsmiths’ Fair
Exhibitions & Collections: The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Dallas Museum of Art, the V&A or Museum of Art and Design NY
Exclusive Retailers: Liberty London, Dover Street Market, Fortnum & Mason, Bergdorf Goodman and the boutiques of Savile Row or Jermyn Street
Excellence Across 20+ Disciplines
Cockpit is home to a staggering diversity of talent. You will find everything from Eleanor Lakelin’s wood sculptures (held in the V&A and MAD collections) and Katharine Coleman MBE’s intricate glass engraving to the hauntingly beautiful gold threads by Huimin Zhang, the master engravings by Castro Smith or the wearable sculptures in Fairtrade Gold by me, Ute Decker.
Disciplines include: Contemporary Jewellery (Including a Resident Jewellery Academy), Fine Jewellery, Ceramics, Textiles & Weaving, Contemporary Silversmithing, Wood Engraving, Turning and & Sculptural Wood, Bespoke Tailoring, Stage & Costume Design, Leatherwork, Shoemaking, Millinery, Embroidery, Paper Art, Basketry & Rush Weaving, Furniture Making, Enamelling, Mosaics, Community Art & Social Practice, Studio Glass to Fine Art Restoration.
A Vibrant Economic and Cultural Ecosystem
What makes Cockpit unique is this "invisible cultural infrastructure." At any moment, I can walk down the hall and solve a complex technical problem in five minutes because I am surrounded by 175 skilled and experienced makers. This is an irreplaceable strength; we are a living, breathing ecosystem where decades of technical and professional expertise are shared freely across the hallways.
For emerging artists, our Awards and Bursaries programme provides more than just a year of subsidized studio space; it offers a transformative launchpad. Supported by a roster of expert business coaches, makers receive the tailored mentorship and workshops needed to scale their practice.
This combination of peer-to-peer knowledge and professional coaching ensures that no maker works in isolation, fostering a cultural economy that is as resilient as it is creative.
Support the Next 40 Years of Extraordinary Craft
As we celebrate four decades of excellence, we also look toward the future. Cockpit is a social enterprise, and while our community is rich in talent, we must continuously fundraise to remain a stable sanctuary for craft. While our building in Bloomsbury may be crumbling – for us it is our sanctuary. Spending hundreds of hours hand-crafting the extraordinary is a labour of love, but it requires a foundation of security - including our ongoing efforts to secure a more permanent, long-term lease from the Council for our historic Bloomsbury home.
Our 40th Anniversary Secret Auction
To mark this milestone, we are thrilled to unveil a Secret Auction during our VIP Birthday Celebration on Thursday, June 4th. This is a rare opportunity to bid on exceptional pieces donated by us makers, with all proceeds directly supporting the future of the Cockpit community.
How You Can Make a Difference
To help us champion the next generation of master makers, please consider supporting us in one of the following ways:
- Become a Patron: Join a dedicated circle of supporters who are deeply invested in the future of craft skills and contemporary handcrafted objects.
- Make a Donation: Every contribution, large or small, supports the vital "invisible infrastructure" our makers rely on.
- Sponsor an Award: Directly fund a year of studio space and coaching for a talented emerging artist.
- Be an Advocate: Introduce your friends and networks to the hidden gem that is Cockpit.
- Visit and Discover: Join us during Open Studios or by appointment to view my latest works. To those who already live with and wear my miniature sculptures, I am deeply grateful; collecting or commissioning contemporary work is the most direct way to champion a maker’s practice and ensure these enriching creative skills continue to flourish.
Thank you!
Your support is the lifeline that ensures we don't just survive, but thrive, for the next 40 years. Together, we can safeguard this vibrant ecosystem of extraordinary making.
Dates for the Diary 2026
- 11−12 May: The Cockpit Effect launch & exhibition (part of London Craft Week)
- 4 June: Private View - 40th Anniversary Celebration & Auction
- 4−7 June: Summer Open Studios – Cockpit Bloomsbury (Deptford the following weekend)
- 26−29 November: Winter Open Studios – Cockpit Bloomsbury (Deptford the following weekend)
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