Quintessentially English

Quintessentially English was established in Lacock in 1997 and trades from a historic apothecary at 11 West Street in the National Trust village in Wiltshire. Founder Jacqui Sheard describes her studio as a place where sculpture meets the art of the apothecary. Small-batch soaps and lotions as well as body oils and bath products are made with botanical ingredients and essential oils. Every item is hand finished and wrapped. Candles and reed diffusers are hand poured by Jacqui, Holly and David from plant-based waxes and pure essential oils. The shelves also hold design-led homeware and vintage finds, together with locally made crafts and the shop's own Q Range of mugs and cards and tea towels featuring English wildlife. At the rear of the store David runs a micro-distillery where Lacock Gin is made in small batches. Up a small flight of stairs, the Q Gallery shows Jacqui Sheard's original sculptures and hand-painted ceramics. Occasionally the work of other artists hangs there too. In 2018, after years as a graphic designer and founder of the business, Sheard returned to sculpture and to working directly with raw materials. Organic soap-making workshops run in the Lacock studio, where visitors learn traditional techniques and take home a batch of their own.