5 Emerging Artists To Watch, According To A Top Interior Designer

‘Art brings me joy,’ says Brigitta Freund – interior architect, collector, and founder of British design company Spinocchia Freund. Her own London home is filled with contemporary art, and at her eponymous design practice clients often entrust Freund with curating their own art collections. It’s why she keeps such a keen eye on exhibitions and fairs while often supporting as a board member and sponsor. ‘As consumers, we’re quite overexposed to the same sort of product all the time,’ she says. ‘When you go into foundations such as the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust and Cockpit Arts [the social enterprise scheme for talented makers], you’re seeing very fresh, new ideas.

 ‘I go in with a very collaborative approach. What they’re producing may not be exactly to your liking or to your client’s liking but once you understand the potential of someone, and the quality that’s achievable, that’s what becomes interesting. I love their enthusiasm. For me, it’s like a dream come true: why wouldn’t you want to give that kind of work to an individual or collective who can create something wonderful? It’s championing voices and also quasi-mentoring them to do other projects.’ For clients of Spinocchia Freund, having a unique artwork or piece of furniture is what gives their project a DNA that none of their friends or contemporaries have. ‘It’s special. Working with artists deepens the narrative of design.’

As a passionate supporter of emerging artists, commissioning new work is crucial to Brigatta Freund’s schemes – here are just five of the designers she looks to when finding unique pieces for beautiful interiors.

Brigatta Freund’s Five Emerging Artists To Watch

1. Darren Appiagyei (Wood Artist, Cockpit Arts)

Darren Appiagyei, wood artist

‘When I work with wood, highlighting its different textures and details feels like uncovering its hidden potential,’ says Darren, who came into woodturning by accident during a 3D design degree. Based at Cockpit Arts, he takes public transport to collect his wood and no longer uses any imported materials. He recently won the Collect Open Award following his presentation at Collect 2025, of which Spinocchia Freund is a key supporter. darrenappiagyei.co.uk

Freund says: ‘I first saw Darren’s work during a visit to Cockpit and was immediately interested in how he let the material speak. His installation at Collect 2025 explored his mother’s illness, paying tribute to her strength and raising awareness of fibroids, all through the textures he created in each vessel, made using found timber from his local area. I was drawn to the narrative and the emotional honesty behind why he was making the work.’

2. Grace Ayson (Stained Glass, QEST Scholar)

Stained glass by Grace Ayson

Grace embraces the painterly possibilities of stained glass, a lengthy process requiring both artistry and craftsmanship. She has become a specialist in interpreting the designs of other artists such as in a recent project the Damson Tree, commissioned by the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral in collaboration with Hughie O’Donoghue RA. Her background as an artist helps her interpret the initial design sympathetically and create a window that captures the spirit of the original drawing. graceayson.com

Freund says: ‘Grace’s work is rooted in traditional stained-glass techniques yet it feels very current. She makes careful choices in how she combines colour and form, which keeps her work focused and clear and very appealing. It’s the kind of craftsmanship I respect and want to support.’

3. Isabelle Davies (Stained Glass, QEST Scholar)

Emerging artist Isabelle runs Iota stained glass studio in Cambridge, which specialises in both the design and creation of new stained glass works as well as the conservation and restoration of historic pieces in private residences and ecclesiastical buildings. She has a degree in Classical Archaeology from Oxford University and a passion for painting and drawing. iotaglass.co.uk

Freund says: ‘Isabelle’s work and process resonates with me. She sees stained glass as decoration and a way to capture a story. Her background in archaeology brings layers of context, and yet she maintains a contemporary sensibility. I find that careful balance fascinating.’

4. Jo Grogan (Woodwork & Gilding, Sarabande Foundation)

Woodwork by Joe Grogan. © Julian Calder

Jo followed a career in fashion and jewellery design before changing tack to study at City and Guilds of London art school. Her work is a celebration of craftsmanship and nature, exploring themes of nostalgia, social class, taste and humour, inviting viewers to reflect on how these influence our understanding of art and tradition. She draws on past experience in fashion, and uses sustainable practices for each piece. jogrogan.com

Freund says: ‘Jo’s work made me pause. It’s playful and subversive and executed with such seriousness of her craft. She blends carving and embellishment in a way that feels original and relevant, and challenges assumptions about what furniture should look like or represent. There’s real confidence in that.’

5. Sofia Karakatsanis (Furniture, QEST Scholar)

‘Phase’ furniture piece by Sofia Karakatsanis

A furniture maker and sculptor who creates functional artworks intended to question perceptions of beauty, Sofia’s work uses both traditional and modern woodworking techniques to achieve a striking end result. Her pieces are intended to provoke a response from the viewer: is it grotesque or beautiful? Building on a passion for craft, she studied design at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design and fine furniture making at Williams and Cleal school. sofiakarakatsanis.co.uk

Freund says: ‘I reached out to QEST to find makers pushing boundaries and Sofia’s fearless approach stood out. Her work uses classical techniques but in a way that challenges our ideas of beauty and comfort. The curves and distortions are very raw and powerful, giving the pieces a strong physical presence.’