Ele Grafton

Paper cutter

©Meg Lovell

Emotional connections to paper homes

Ele has been making house models on commission since 2016
Her handcrafted paper structures light up on the inside
She is inspired by nature, architecture, people’s relationship with their homes and her fellow paper artists

Ele Grafton uses sentimental documents to make personalised, model paper houses that light up. Although she studied fine art and art history, she mostly focused on drawing and mixed media work – she is primarily self-taught in model making. Ele started working on illustration and drawing commissions in 2010 and discovered her passion for model making by serendipity. She made a small ‘country cottage’ for her husband whilst they were living in London in 2012, then got her first commission from a friend who saw her creation and wanted one of his own. After being featured in the Financial Times in 2024, Ele's work received amazing exposure, and she started getting fascinating house commissions. "What I love most about my craft is that I get to know the history of a variety of homes very well, as well as the people that have lived in them. I also love the challenge of working out how best to create a structurally sound model,” she says. Through her choice of documents, Ele creates emotional connections to the model houses for the people who have lived there.

Interview

©Meg Lovell

©Meg Lovell

What does your creative process look like?: My process involves careful observation, measuring and hand cutting before I get to piecing everything together. I put a lot of thought in the placement of words within the final composition of a piece. At the same time, I carefully consider the overall arrangement of rigid structures against the surrounding softer shrubbery and trees.
Has your craft taught you any life lessons?: I learnt to be patient, as every project has its low points that need to be worked through slowly. I also learnt to make connections with others as it can be a lonely job, and other people’s ideas and energy are crucial to development.
What fascinates you the most when creating with paper?: It is amazing how a two-dimensional piece of paper can be transformed into a three-dimensional structure that becomes engaging and emotive for my clients. It is always the small details that make the biggest difference and the strongest impact.
How do you integrate technology into your craft?: I use my computer to scan sentimental documents. I adjust the scale and position of various important words and places on the chosen documents before I print them to ensure they are visible on the finished pieces.

Ele Grafton is an expert artisan she began her career in 2015