While we serve a global market, we are still proud to call Yorkshire home and each year Yorkshire Day offers a welcome moment to celebrate the craft, creativity and culture this county continues to inspire. This year, we’re shining a light on three standout areas where Yorkshire’s artistic voice is loud and clear: fine furniture, evocative painting and beautifully made decorative objects.
These aren’t just regional curiosities. They’re part of a much larger picture, a network of workshops, studios and artists whose work speaks to quality, integrity and enduring appeal. Whether it’s a signed piece of studio glass from Rosedale or a watercolour painted on the cliffs above Staithes, these objects have deep roots and lasting relevance. They matter because they were made with care, made with place in mind, and made to last.
Rabbitman, Yorkshire Craft with Character
One of the most distinctive signatures in British furniture-making comes from East Yorkshire, carved not with initials, but with a rabbit. Peter Heap, better known as Rabbitman, trained with Mouseman Robert Thompson before establishing his own workshop in Wetwang. His hand-tooled oak furniture shares Thompson’s commitment to tradition and durability, but with a character all of its own.
Recent sales show just how sought after these pieces have become. A large Rabbitman sideboard, fitted with fielded panel doors and iron strap hinges, brought in £925, while a compact, curved-legged coffee table sold for £380. Even smaller objects, like a hand-carved circular fruit bowl, have real collector appeal, fetching £300.
Each piece carries the distinctive rabbit motif and the unmistakable marks of handwork, gently adzed surfaces, honest joints and practical proportions. It’s furniture that feels grounded, local and made with purpose.