We’re Back – Officially Specialist Crafts

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Same people. Same passion. Same trusted products. Now with a clearer name.

From our home in Leicester, we’ve been supplying art and design materials to schools for decades. If you’ve opened a cupboard in your classroom or unpacked a delivery from us, chances are the label you saw read: Specialist Crafts.

Well, now it’s official:
Dryad Education is becoming Specialist Crafts – part of the Dryad Education Group.

But don’t worry. We’re still the same team, offering the same great service, with the same belief that creativity belongs in every classroom.

A Name You Already Know

The name Specialist Crafts was first introduced over 35 years ago to reflect our growing focus on art and design education. It started as a product range… but over time, it became more than that. It became the name teachers trust, remember, and recommend.

And that’s exactly why we’re making it our name for good.

This rebrand isn’t about reinvention, it’s about clarity. A way to make things simpler, more recognisable, and more joined-up, so you can find us quickly and know exactly what to expect:

Trusted products. Creative support. Curriculum alignment. And a team that’s always here to help.

Rooted in History. Focused on the Future.

Our story began in 1912, when Harry Peach and Benjamin Fletcher, Principal of the Leicester School of Art, founded Dryad Furniture. What began as a small workshop making cane furniture for recovering WWI soldiers soon grew into a respected name in bookbinding, marquetry, and eventually, art and design education.

That history still runs through everything we do, from the products we offer to the care we bring to every classroom order.

Dryad Education isn’t going away. It remains the name behind the scenes, the group supporting Specialist Crafts and continuing the legacy of creativity, care, and craft.

Why the Change?

This rebrand is about expressing our purpose more clearly. It lets us shout a little louder about what we stand for:

• Empowering educators with resources they can rely on

• Inspiring creators with materials that invite experimentation and joy

• Fuelling the future of art in classrooms across the UK

We’re still proudly based in Leicester. We’re still passionate about creative education. And we’re still here to support you every step of the way.

What’s Changing?

• Our name: We are now Specialist Crafts, part of the Dryad Education Group

• Our branding: A new look, a clearer voice, and a modern feel

• Our identity: Stronger, simpler, more focused on art and design

What’s Not Changing?

• Our brilliant team (hello again!)

• Your account, pricing, and login details

• Our extensive product range

• Our values: Be respectful. Be proud. Be bold.

From sketchbooks to silk paints, lino tools to class packs, everything you count on stays the same.

Looking Ahead, Together

This isn’t a farewell to Dryad, it’s a confident return to Specialist Crafts, a name that reflects who we are and what we stand for.

So whether you’re flicking through our catalogue, restocking your supplies, or finding that one brush you know your students love, you can be sure:

Same people. Same products. Same quality.

Just a name that makes more sense.