Meet the Makers

Supporting Ireland’s sustainable design and craft industry

At The Grey Heron, we are so proud to showcase and support Irish makers & artists. There is so much creative talent in Ireland, and we are always delighted to participate in the Design & Craft Council of Ireland’s #MADELOCAL campaign. Inspired by this, we have dedicated a page to the wonderful makers that we work with!

Audrey Cantillon, Artist & Illustrator

Artist, Designer & Illustrator

Kerry Eugenie Prendiville

Kerry Eugenie Prendiville is an Irish artist, designer and illustrator inspired by natural landscapes, the flora and the fauna.

She has studied and completed a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design and Illustration, with the Interactive Design Institute in Scotland, accredited by the University of Hertfordshire. Kerry Eugenie lives in Co. Clare.

Conor & Sarah of Cowfield Design

Designers

Cowfield Design

Conor, Sarah, and Sean Kelly are the family behind Cowfield Design. Based in Belfast with a passion for design and inspired by their holidays to Donegal over the years, the goal of their quirky designs is to create "a reminder of the unforgettable," be it the unforgettable craic you had in a pub or the unforgettable views you came across on your travels around Ireland.

Anne-Louise from Dana Jewellery

Jewellery

Dana

Based in Kerry, Anne-Louise is the colourful creator behind Dana's eclectic designs. She studied jewellery making in Quebec before travelling around New Zealand, which is where the idea to use vinyl records to make jewellery came about.

With a focus on 'slow fashion' all of Anne-Louise's records come from donations or charity shops, and she hopes that her stunning designs can make people rethink their relationship with 'waste' and see the beauty in repurposing the unwanted.

Ben Breslin of Vico Deodorant

Eco-friendly natural deodorant

Vico

Shocked to discover the amount of nasty chemicals in highstreet deodorant brands, Ben Breslin set out to find an eco-friendly, natural, sustainable alternative, and when he couldn't he decided to make his own. During the height of Covid restrictions in 2021, Ben poured all of his time and energy into creating a brand to be proud of, roping in family and friends along the way to test and trial his products. Vico is now a thriving, family run business where everything is hand made in small batches in Cork!

Aoife Slattery

Ceramics

Aoife Slattery

Aoife graduated from Limerick School of Art and Design in 2013 and has been practising in ceramics since. Her studio is based in Ballymorris just a short drive from Limerick City.

Aoife works primarily with white earthenware clay using an unusual printing process to create her unique designs. Coloured slips are applied to a plaster slab by paint brushes, sponges, slip trailers and other tools with each tool making a unique mark. Clay is poured on top and when dry, the clay is cut into shapes and then folded.

Brian Hanly of John Hanly Woolen Mills

Textiles / Woollen Mill

John Hanly

Back in 1893, Denis Hanly and his son John set up a vertical woollen mill beside the Nenagh river, in a disused flour mill in Ballyartella, North Tipperary. Local farmers sold their fleeces to the mill, where wool was spun and carded and then woven into two main products of blankets and flannel fabric.

Today, Brian Hanly (pictured), the fourth generation of Hanlys, proudly hold the reins of the company. The mill in Ballyartella remains the beating heart of what they do – yet their story goes around the world.

Nicholas Mosse

Pottery / Ceramics

Nicholas Mosse

Established in 1976 by Nicolas Mosse after training in England and Japan. His mission was to produce beautiful, functional pottery in the style of Irish Spongeware.

The artisans who work at the pottery are all local and trained in-house to make, or ‘throw’, the pottery shapes and to decorate them. Many have been apart of the team since the very beginning and now even some of their children work with Nicholas Mosse Pottery, so it’s a real family affair and a testament to the richness of rural life in Ireland.

Emmet Bosonnet of Kopper Kreation

Industrial Homewares

Kopper Kreation

Kopper Kreation is an industrial homewares brand that uses reclaimed and recycled materials to create unique and eye-catching homewares. Emmet Bosonnet is the creator and founder. He is from Dublin, Ireland and has an honours degree in Engineering. Emmet has always been inspired by industrial design and has a keen eye for practical and functional product design. Emmet loves the raw materials of Copper, Steel and Brass and is inspired by all things industrial and finding alternative uses for items that tend to be disregarded or sent to a recycling centre or landfill.

Lorna of Luna Ray Jewellery

Jewellery

Luna Ray

Lorna’s story began during lockdown where she started a hobby with clay in her converted garden shed in Cork! She loved coming up with new designs and creating each piece. Gathering inspiration from new styles, collections from nature and interior each pair of earrings are slow-made by hand. (This is not fast fashion!)

Having completed an art and design portfolio course in 2011, whilst also having obtained a commerce degree and working internationally in multiple sales and marketing roles. Lorna has been able to use all of this as an advantage when setting up her business.

Vicki O'Callaghan and Michelle O'Riordan of Babyboo

Textiles

BabyBoo

BabyBoo was founded in 2014 by Vicki & Michelle & continues to go from strength to strength. They created BabyBoo after they struggled to find quality clothing for their children who were suffering with eczema and reflux.

BabyBoo was a natural progression for the two, they knew there was a gap in the market for functional, sustainable organic basics for babies and older kids and wanted to fill that missing link. They first decided to manufacture a small collection of seven bandana bibs and now continue to grow!

Joanna Ciezka and Aleksandra Kieldanowicz of Irish Socksciety

Textiles

Irish Socksciety

Best friends Alex and Joanna who dance laugh and work together - in any order really as it usually happens all at once. They are the kind of people who usually wear baggy, black or grey clothes but socks, socks are very special to them. They choose them very carefully, sometimes odd socks, sometimes patterned or themed and always -lots of colour. That's why designing socks is what they are passionate about. Their socks brighten up any occasion from boring business meetings to a wonderful wedding, lunch with family, or party with mates.

Louise & Pearse Caulfield of Caulfield Country Boards

Joinery / Woodcraft

Caulfield Country Boards

Pearse Caulfield, the joiner/philosopher, joined the family business from a young age. On completion of an apprenticeship in joinery he then decided to return to university while still working as a joiner. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, in 2012, gaining a BA in philosophy.

Louise Caulfield, the scientist/baker, studied a BA in natural science, specialising in geology and graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 2007. She lived in Western Australia for a number of years working in an iron ore mine! She returned to Ireland in 2011 and the keen baker completed an MSc in environmental science in 2015.

Hannah Backmo of Hannah's Bees

Apiarist

Hannas Bee Wraps

Hanna Backmo is originally from a small island on the west coast of Sweden and came to Ireland in 2001. While here, Hanna developed a new passion for beekeeping. One thing led to another and after a few years, Hanna found the perfect combination of her work as a dressmaker, and an obsession for beautiful, natural fabrics and beekeeping.

Hanna’s Bees is based in East Cork. Producing honey, beeswax candles, reusable beeswax food wraps, and beeswax leather and woodcare products.

She spent her childhood as a very free-range child. Exploring the rocky shores and woods together with her siblings. Sailing and swimming were favourite past-times during summer, while dark winter days were spent inventing, creating, and building useful things. The curiosity, creativity, and love of nature that was born then have stayed with Hanna all her life and permeate everything she does. From gardening and beekeeping to parenting and creating natural and sustainable products from what Mother Nature has to offer.

Bert DuFour of the Designer of Things

Graphic Designer

Bert Defour (The Designer of Things)

Bert Dufour is a multi-disciplined graphic designer and architectural artist. Bert grew up in Belgium where he studied graphic design in Antwerp and architecture in Ghent. He then set out on his travels living and working in various European countries before eventually making his home in Ireland. Now he loves living on the Seven Heads Peninsula at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean right in between the lighthouses of Galley Head and the Old Head of Kinsale!

John Beasley Photographer

Photographer

John Beasley

John Beasley is an award winning photographer who is based here in Bandon. John has a passion for the sea and much of his imagery revolves around the ocean. One of our favourite shots of John’s is of the old Bandon weir which is a big hit with the locals!

We have been stocking John’s prints for a number of years now. He has been a great help to us here over the years, helping with exhibitions and photography. He is a true professional and lives and breathes photography. John also does weddings and events. More info can be found on his website www.johnbeasley.ie.

Lucy Hagerty of La Bougie

Perfumery

La Bougie

Lucy Hagerty started La Bougie in the summer of 2012 and is now stocked across Ireland.  These artisan products are hand-poured and have a devout following with candle connoisseurs and perfume lovers.  Her working life is non-stop, with the launch of new perfumes, custom fragrances for luxurious properties and Hollywood royalty, and introducing La Bougie to exclusive retailers across the US and UK.  However, you will often find her working in her Perfumery in Kinsale and this is where she is at her happiest.

Lucy has created a beautifully branded and packaged La Bougie range from her perfumery in Kinsale. She uses prized aromatics and botanical oils from all over the world to create exquisite candles and diffusers.

Louise Kingston of Inchydoney Candles

Perfumery

Inchydoney Candles

Inchydoney Candles are made locally in a converted cowshed on stunning Inchydoney Island by Louise Kingston. The beautifully scented candles are made from eco-friendly soy wax and contain essential oils and fragrances. We love Louise’s candle and diffuser range here, especially as we have a family connection to Inchydoney!