Traditional Brushmaking in Britain
For centuries, brushes have been an essential part of daily life. While you may be less likely to pick up a mangle or a toasting fork today, most people still own and regularly use several types of brush. You might sweep your house, clean your workshop, groom your animals, paint your walls, apply wallpaper paste or use brushes in countless crafts. Yet despite their everyday usefulness, few people give much thought to how brushes are made or the long tradition of heritage craft skills behind them.
A Short History of Brushmaking
Brushmaking has a rich history in Britain, with craftspeople producing brushes from natural materials for centuries. Early brushmakers worked with locally available materials, combining wood with animal and plant fibres to create tools for household tasks and a wide range of trades.
As towns grew and crafts became more specialised, so did the brushes themselves. Different trades and professions required different tools, leading to the development of brushes designed specifically for particular tasks, from chimney sweeping and shoe polishing to decorating and artistic work.
By the eighteenth century, brushmaking had become an established craft with its own guilds, apprenticeships and standards. In 1749, the Worshipful Company of Brushmakers was granted a Royal Charter, helping to uphold standards within the trade and support the training of future generations of brushmakers.
The Industrial Revolution transformed many traditional crafts, and brushmaking was no exception. Growing demand led to the development of larger workshops and eventually factories capable of producing brushes on a much greater scale. Centres such as London and Birmingham became important hubs for brush production, supplying homes, businesses and industries across Britain.
Despite the rise of mechanised manufacturing, handmade brushmaking has never disappeared completely. While many everyday brushes became factory-made, skilled makers continued to produce specialist brushes for artists, craftspeople, tradespeople and those who valued the quality and longevity of traditionally made tools.
Today, traditional brushmaking occupies a unique position. It remains a practical craft rooted in heritage techniques while also appealing to those seeking sustainable, repairable and plastic-free alternatives to mass-produced products.
As interest grows in heritage crafts and handmade objects, brushmaking continues to attract new makers and enthusiasts, ensuring that this remarkable tradition remains a living craft rather than a historical curiosity.
Our Journey into Brushmaking
For us, brushmaking began through the North East Wales Bodgers (NEWBs), our local group of the Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Green Woodworkers.
Having organised a brushmaking course for the group, we found that what appeared to be a relatively simple object required surprisingly addictive amount of skill and focus. What started as curiosity soon developed into a genuine fascination with the craft, we came straight home from the workshop and by the end of the following week had already made around 15 brushes between us.
Since then, we have made hundreds of brushes using traditional techniques and natural materials, experimenting with different fibres, woods and designs while continuing to develop our understanding of the craft.
What continues to appeal to us is the balance between function and beauty. A good brush is essentially a practical tool, but it can also be a tactile, beautiful object that is a pleasure to use.
Today we continue to make and teach brushmaking because we believe these traditional skills deserve to remain living crafts, valued not only for their history but for their relevance in the modern world.
When we are creating brushes for the home, workshop, studio or garden, we are continually reminded that even the simplest everyday objects can contain a rich story of materials, skills and tradition, and every handmade brush offers a physical connection to a craft that has been developing for centuries.