Nearly three decades after first travelling as a Churchill Fellow, Justin Crisp has returned to Europe and the United Kingdom to continue a lifelong commitment to learning, craftsmanship and connection. His recent study tour through Finland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom reflects not only a return to familiar places but also an enduring curiosity to refine his craft.
In August and September, Justin undertook a furniture-making and conservation study tour, revisiting destinations, colleagues and friends from his earlier travels while exploring new places. Across Finland and Norway, he was drawn to the honest, natural forms of timber and to the deep connection between landscape and design. A visit to Vardø, at the northern tip of Norway, left a lasting impression, with puffins and coastal wildlife already inspiring ideas for future marquetry.
In Sweden, a visit to Skokloster Castle offered a rare insight into a preserved 17th-century workshop, with original tools and furniture still in place. Visits to the National Museum and the Royal Decorative Arts workshops, led by skilled conservators, deepened his understanding of traditional techniques. The United Kingdom provided further highlights, including museum and workshop visits and time with long-standing colleagues from his Fellowship, as well as access to the Royal Collection and the decorative arts workshops.
Justin’s career has been shaped by his 1996 Churchill Fellowship. At the time, he was in his tenth year of self-employment as a furniture craftsman, seeking to broaden his skills in design, construction and conservation. His Fellowship enabled him to study at leading institutions across the United States and Europe, focusing on traditional and contemporary furniture, restoration techniques, teaching methods and workshop practice. Reflecting on the experience, he described it as a memorable and enriching opportunity that allowed him to learn far more than he could have envisaged.
Since then, Justin has built a diverse body of work, ranging from fitting out the Great South Pacific Express luxury train to designing super yacht interiors, private commissions and restoration projects. He has also shared his knowledge widely, teaching school students, running classes and supporting the next generation of craftspeople. A highlight of his long association with the Trust was being invited to design and build a jewellery box for the late Elvie Munday, a long-serving member of the Churchill Trust.
This recent journey continues a long association with the Churchill Trust and reflects a lifelong commitment to learning and craft. I take back many ideas and sources of inspiration for my furniture-making, along with new friendships and renewed connections with colleagues. My passion for this work remains as strong as ever, and I look forward to continuing to build, create and share what I have learned.
Justin’s work sits within a broader community of Churchill Fellows working in furniture-making, craftsmanship, and conservation. Fellows such as Colin Fardon, Geoffrey Hannah, and Greg Peters have each contributed to this field, from fine cabinet making to the preservation of traditional techniques. Together, their work reflects a shared commitment to craftsmanship, learning and the passing on of skills.
Images L-R
- Justin Crisp at the Victoria and Albert Museum with a Dutch marquetry cabinet. Special as I studied marquetry in the Rijksmuseum in 1996, with the cabinetmaker.
- Beautiful woodworking tools at Skokloster Castle near Stockholm.
- Visiting the national museum to study Swedish furniture. Elise Anderson conservatour on left. David Wheeler, Senior Decorative Arts and Furniture Royal Collection, London. Justin Crisp on the right