The Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen

The Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen has represented some of Britain’s most skilled Makers since 1933, carrying forward the legacy of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Its members are artisans working at the very highest level of design and craftsmanship - balancing heritage skills with contemporary vision. At Eleven Bibury, we are proud to partner with the Guild to present an evolving selling exhibition of their work. Every piece is carefully handpicked and available to purchase in our Gallery Shop - crafted to be lived with, loved, and treasured. With the collection changing through the seasons, each visit offers something fresh to discover.

The Story of the Guild

The Guild was founded during a period of renewed interest in craft, community, and the principles of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Inspired by William Morris and his circle, it became a home for Makers whose work embodied authenticity, creativity, and beauty in daily life.

The Cotswolds has long been a heartland of the Arts & Crafts tradition. William Morris, who lived nearby at Kelmscott, famously described Bibury as “the most beautiful village in England.” By showcasing the Guild’s work here at Eleven Bibury, we are continuing that legacy - connecting visitors to the heritage of craft and to the Makers who embody its values today.

Over the decades, the Guild has grown to represent nationally and internationally recognised Makers whose work is held in collections, exhibitions, and homes around the world. Membership is reserved for artisans at the very top of their game: each applicant’s work is rigorously reviewed to ensure it demonstrates exceptional skill, original design, and integrity of process. To be invited to join the Guild is a mark of mastery - recognition by peers that a Maker is among the best in their field.

The Guild is now led by its President, Lady Anne Evans, whose vision for Eleven Bibury aligns with its mission to celebrate craft, provenance, and creativity at the highest level.

Two women working on ironing boards in a rustic room with a window, stone walls, and hanging lights.
A group of women gathered around a woman in a wheelchair, who is smiling and holding hands with a woman standing in front of her. The scene appears to be at a social event or gathering with a display case in the background.
Black and white historical photograph of workers in a factory or workshop setting. Several men are engaged in manual tasks at different workstations, with tools and equipment present. The environment appears rugged and industrial.
A woman wearing a hat and apron in an old-fashioned workshop, leaning over a workbench and looking at an object in her hands, with various tools and items on the workbench and shelves behind her.
Black and white photo of three scientists or doctors working in a laboratory, wearing white coats, with tools and equipment on a wooden workbench.

Featured Makers

Every Maker we feature is chosen for their orginality, integrity, and skill. The Guild exhibition at Eleven Bibury is a selling exhibition, meaning every piece you see is available to buy and take home. As the seasons change, so too does the collection - so not two visits are ever quite the same.

A woman with glasses and long hair sitting next to a smiling man with a beard, who is holding a large glass sculpture in a workshop.

Loco Glass - Glassblowers

Louise and Colin Hawkins create contemporary glassworks using traditional glassblowing techniques, honed through years of study and collaboration. Based at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester, their work is full of light, colour and movement - bridging heritage and innovation.

A man with glasses and a beard is holding a decorative plate with fish designs, standing outdoors near a garden with plants and flowers. Behind him is a building with signs reading 'POTTERY' and 'OPEN,' and a birdcage with a cockatoo inside.

Toff Milway - Potter

For over 50 years, Toff has been making saltglaze pottery in the Cotswolds. His philosophy is rooted in simplicity; allowing natural clay, fire, and salt to do their work. Functional and beautiful, his pieces are inspired as much by the food they hold, as by the act of making.

A woman with red hair smiling and standing in front of a circular mosaic artwork of a woman with short hair. The woman is wearing a blue and white patterned shirt, dark denim overalls, and white sneakers. The mosaic features colorful pieces and the text around the outer edge reads "She'll come, She'll go, She'll lay, Breathe & Exist." There is also a framed artwork and a small easel with another piece of art on the same wooden platform.

Becky Paton - Mosaic Artist

Becky’s mosaics draw inspiration from both the natural world and powerful female figures. Her Warrior Women series reimagines icons from Elizabeth I to Jane Morris, blending historic portraiture with contemporary craft. Each piece is rich with symbolism and painstaking detail.

Makers at Eleven

Plan Your Visit

Address: 11 The Street, Bibury, Cotswolds GL7 5NP

Tel: 01285 703322

Email: contact@elevenbibury.co.uk

Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Accessibility: Café, Gallery Shop, ground floor seating and toilet are wheelchair accessible. Please note that the terraced gardens are not. If you have any specific requirements, our team will be glad to help - just let us know before your visit.

No Bookings Required.

Café, Gardens and Gallery Shop

Open 7 days a week
9am - 6pm

Post Office

Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
9am - 4pm