Ahead of Lustre, our nationally renowned craft and design market, we spoke to artist Hannah Lane, who creates bespoke works from recycled paper and wood.
How do new ideas emerge for you and what is your process for developing them into finished pieces?
“Unless working to a brief, new ideas usually begin in my hands rather than in my head. I discover them while working directly with the material noticing how the wood or the paper reacts, or how the two behave differently when joined together. I’m often led by curiosity and small accidents; something unexpected in the making will suggest a new direction.
When I begin developing a piece, I start by creating the material itself, especially when I’m working with recycled paper. I shape slowly and intuitively, letting the grain and fibres guide me rather than forcing a fixed design. My process is about listening to what the material wants to become. A piece feels finished when there is a sense of balance and conversation between wood and paper, when they feel as though they belong to each other.”
What do you enjoy most about the materials you work with?
“What I love most is that both wood and paper carry a history inside them creating a bespoke pattern, grain and texture. Wood holds time in its grain, and paper holds stories in its printed fibres even after they’ve been discarded. When I work with them, I feel as though I’m revealing something that was already there, just hidden.
I also enjoy the contrast: wood is stable and enduring, while paper is fragile and temporary, yet when I remake and reshape it, it gains surprising strength. Bringing the two back together after their journeys have diverged, it feels like completing a circle. There’s a quiet satisfaction in knowing that something once overlooked or unwanted can become something precious again.”
What feelings do you hope your artworks bring to their eventual owners and users?
“I hope my work brings a sense of calm and quiet curiosity, encouraging people to pause and really look. I want them to see the materials in a new way, to notice what can be produced from recycled or overlooked objects, and to appreciate the transformation that happens through careful making.
I also hope there is a sense of intimacy: that the tactile hand-worked surface feels inviting, and that the traces of making remind the viewer of touch, patience, and attention. If someone lives with one of my pieces, I want it to feel like a companion, something that continues to reveal itself gently over time, rather than all at once.”
Could you tell us about what you are working on at the moment?
“At the moment, I am experimenting with woven, sanded paper. By sanding them back and then weaving layers of paper together, I create a tactile, sculptural surface that reveals the hidden patterns of the material. This process allows me to explore texture, depth, and the interplay between fragility and strength in paper, while pushing the boundaries of what recycled materials can achieve.
I’m particularly interested in how this technique can interact with a wooden frame, continuing my exploration of combining the two materials and observing how they respond to each other over time.”
Meet Hannah and see her beautiful artwork at Lustre on 7th -9th November. Entry is free. Find out more.
To see more of Hannah’s incredible work, visit her website here.
