About the maker
Marmor Paperie was launched in 2015 by Lucy McGrath with the hope of breathing a new life into the traditional art of paper marbling. Seeing shops saturated with mass-produced products, she wanted to herald a return to quality workmanship and give people back the joy of owning something truly special. Paper marbling is an old and beautiful technique that is now considered an ‘endangered craft’ within the UK. Every marbled paper is different, so each item made from one is a completely unique piece. Lucy’s marbling is characterized by a fresh, contemporary colour palette and patterns that celebrate the chaotic qualities of the water base.
Lucy originally studied Illustration at the University of Brighton, UK, where she discovered bookbinding and started collecting beautiful antique fine bindings with beautiful marbled paper hiding in the endpapers. Her curiosity about these beautiful papers lead her first to Turkey, where marbling originates and where she participated in her first marbling workshop – and then, back in the UK, to a more intensive class with British traditional marbler Victoria Hall. Lucy then started practising and refining her style, reaching a point where she felt ready to offer her work for sale.
After winning the Arts Society/Cockpit Arts Award in 2016, Lucy joined craft incubator Cockpit Arts in south London, where she marbles every product by hand. She published her first book, ‘Contemporary Paper Marbling’, in 2019. Her stationery and giftware has been stocked in luxury retailers including Liberty, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, and she has worked with clients including Acqua di Parma, Matches Fashion and Adidas.
