Meet the Bookbinder: Charlotte Wainwright
I am thrilled to share my little chat with the Bookbinder and Paper Marbler know as @wainwrightbookbinding on the gram. Charlotte Wainwright has a lovely studio near to me in East London and we first worked together in 2018. At that time, my illustration work was mostly for wedding stationery but a request to make a cloth-bound album, covered in my floral pattern was a joyous project for two reasons! Firstly a reminder to me of how much I loved producing textiles as I had done during my degree. But most of all, the thrill of seeing how a talented bookbinder like Charlotte could turn a small piece of printed cotton into a stunning hand-bound wedding album.
Fast forward 7 years (goodness how time flies) and Charlotte is once again the clever pair of hands behind one of my offerings - The Swatch Box. This is a gorgeous keepsake box that you could use for all sorts of things, but especially great for fabric and wallpaper swatch storage. Charlotte has meticulously constructed the box (which ties up with a rayon ribbon) using my Geraniums wallpaper.
Fig I. Charlotte Wainwright in the studio
Charlotte is quite frankly on fire these days and recent collaborators have included Liberty, Projektytynny and The Saatchi Gallery. Here is what she had to say to my questions:
Describe your creative style in 3 words.
Colourful, maximalist, traditional (with a twist)
When did you first start to love the thing that you do now, or was it always there?
I’ve always had a love of making books. As a kid I was always stapling together rambling story books and picture books. I’ve been bookbinding professionally for over a decade now, but my love of paper marbling, and introducing that more into my work, has been rapidly evolving over the past 2-3 years.
Fig II. Wainwright Bookbing x Projektytynny
What inspired you to build the business you have now? What impact do you hope to create?
I studied Graphic Design at Central St Martins in London, so first got introduced to traditional bookbinding and printing techniques there. I then graduated and ended up working in a traditional bindery in central London for a few years. I have always had an entrepreneurial bee in my bonnet though. I have had a lot of ‘ideas’ over the years (some more successful than others…) I love creating things I’m passionate about and seeing people want to buy them, it’s a very rewarding process!
It’s your day off, what do you do? How do you unwind or find inspiration?
I have a 3 year old and a 6 year old, so my days off aren’t really spent unwinding haha! Family life is exhausting and hard work, but filled with so much fun and love! In my free time I’m always making, sewing or crafting, usually something to do with the kids or the house. Most recently, a cardboard chameleon head and sewing sequinned phoenix wings!
Fig III. Charlotte's skills know no bounds - this antique book looks good as new!
Words of wisdom; what’s the best life or work advice you’ve received?
I would say just find what you love. Try things out. Experiment. Play. Even whilst doing your 9-5 for someone else, keep your own ideas burning. My first ‘studio’ was in the loft room of our flat, I used to go up there and make books every evening and weekend…
What item in your home gives you the most joy? Where did it come from?
I absolutely LOVE using beautiful fabrics and wallpapers in my bookbinding work (see gorgeous bespoke boxes covered in Sophie Harpley geraniums wallpaper!) And it’s no surprise my home is also full of patterns and florals. When we moved into our home I bought lots of lovely block-printed Indian fabrics and sewed an excess of frilly cushions! I’d say these give me the most joy and satisfaction, making things from scratch.
Fig IV. Marbled books for The Wallace Collection
What’s the most surprising fact about you?
I haven’t read a book for… longer than I’d dare to admit! I make books all day but never read them, ha!
Proudest recent achievement?
Launching my range of marbled notebooks in Liberty last year was a very cool moment! Watching my instagram grow over the past year has been amazing, I’ve appeared on the V&A, Saatchi and Tate’s instagram grids! Mind-blowing!
I also have a very exciting collaboration coming out on TikTok in the next few weeks, which will be very cool! Watch this space :)
Watch Charlotte making my Swatch Boxes!
Fig V. The wedding album we made in 2018, featuring my 'Matisse' print:
