How to Canada | TCO London

Capital City highlights in Ottawa with Sophie Sellu

Sophie then heads to Canada's capital, Ottawa, Ontario, in search of new understandings and inspiration. She revels in the Canada Day festivities before a visit to the National Gallery of Canada.

Client: Desintation Canada

Production Company: TCO London 

Director - D'Arcy Doran

Producer - Terese Christensen

Production Coordinator – Mel Brown

DOP - Allan Wilson

Sound - Gaelle Komar

Fixer / Photographer - Sebastien Rist

Talent – Sophie Sellu

Sophie graduated from the Manchester School of Art in 2009, and now lives and works in London. After graduating she always searched for new and exciting artistic outlets, and found a number of creative courses, to challenge herself and to get away from the constant glare of the computer screen.

In the Summer of 2013, Sophie attended a spoon carving and bushcraft workshop in woodland in the beautiful British countryside. Inspired by the techniques learnt, she returned home the very next day with an axe, much to her family's amusement. After giving some spoons away as gifts, friends and family urged her to pursue this avenue and to create a brand for her woodworking. A few cut fingers and splinters later Grain and Knot was born. 

Loving spoon carving so much, Sophie would do it in any spare moment that she had. In the Spring of 2014 Sophie left her position in trend forecasting and took the opportunity to take Grain and Knot to the next level.  

After completing the Prince's Trust Enterprise Scheme, Sophie is now working as a full time woodworker, and is fully supported by the Prince's Trust. 

Grain and knot was born from a love of nature, exploration and the need for purpose in creation.  It is beautifully tactile, fully functional wooden kitchenware, with each item made from reclaimed timber.

Featured Locations : Opinicon Resort, 1000 Islands Tower, Kirk's Kanoes, Parliament Hill, ByWard Market, National Gallery of Canada, Lower Prospect, East Coast Outfitters, Peggy's Cove

Canadian Artists featured: Electric Lady - Wine Lips, You Lovely You - Thomas D'Arcy, Good Thing - Heartstreets, Any Moment – Jeen, Cold in the Summer - Dan Mangan, M Coyote - The Blaze Velluto Collection, If I Live or if I Die - Cuff the Duke, Good Thing – Heartstreets, Arrow - Folly & The Hunter