Lucy Sparrow Visits Cornish Sea Salt

British artist Lucy Sparrow, known for her playful and meticulously hand-sewn and painted recreations of everyday objects, is back with a brand new installation — her first UK show since 2021’s ‘The Bourdon Street Chemist’. Famous for transforming entire spaces into felt-filled wonderlands, Lucy is currently preparing for her return to London with an immersive new experience set to open in Mayfair. In the lead-up to the show, she travelled to Cornwall to dive into a key part of her research: exploring the nation’s love for fish and chips, starting with a visit to Cornish Sea Salt.

A Salty Seaside Adventure

To help bring her vision to life, Lucy recently travelled with Jess to Helston, Cornwall — home to Cornish Sea Salt. The trip was part of her deep-dive research into the ingredients and rituals behind Britain’s most beloved takeaway: fish and chips. Their main goal: to explore the origins of one of the key components of the dish — the salt — with a behind-the-scenes look at how it’s made.

Lucy and Jess were warmly welcomed by the team at Cornish Sea Salt and treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the brand’s impressive warehouse and production facilities. Lucy got to see first-hand how the pure, mineral-rich flakes are harvested from the Cornish waters. Of course, she brought along a few special guests: her signature felt creations of fish and chips, and a special pot of felt Cornish Sea Salt.

After the tour, Lucy and Jess took some time to explore the local area of Helston, and sample some proper fish and chips by the sea – an essential part of the research (obviously). Golden chippies, crispy cod, mushy peas, and a generous sprinkle of Cornish Sea Salt, every element of the classic British chippy was carefully observed, and tasted of course. In preparation for Lucy’s upcoming installation…

Salt, Sea, and Sewing

This trip to Cornwall wasn’t just about sightseeing. It was a deep dive into sensory research and textural inspiration – an essential part of Lucy’s creative process. Known for her painstaking attention to detail and love of British culture, Lucy’s work often blurs the line between art and nostalgia. Visiting Cornish Sea Salt meant that Lucy could source not just material inspiration, but also gain an understanding of how the salt is made — and the people who make it — insights that will influence her next immersive installation.

Keep your eyes peeled — Lucy’s adventure to Cornwall is just a teaser of what’s on the horizon. Her new art installation will be opening soon in the heart of Mayfair, London. If this trip is anything to go by, you can expect an unforgettable felt-filled celebration of British food, culture, and nostalgia.