James Cropper, a specialist in paper, packaging and advanced materials, has partnered with artist Nathan Ward to craft a stunning fusion of art and material innovation titled “Message in a Wrap.”

The groundbreaking project resulted in the creation of an eye-catching 3D diorama made entirely with Moulded Fibre and paper. The collaboration was inspired by James Cropper’s 180-year legacy of craftsmanship and bespoke packaging innovations, highlighting its recent partnership with premium whiskey distillery Bruichladdich on an award-winning Moulded Fibre wrap for its Luxury Re/defined range. As a result, the project celebrates the synergy between James Cropper and its customers by depicting Bruichladdich’s Isle of Islay-based distillery side-by-side with James Cropper’s historic Burneside mill.

Jordan Scott, marketing communications manager at James Cropper, highlights the story behind the project, saying, “Our ethos is to ‘be like no other.’ We’re continually challenging ourselves to hone our craft and explore new ways to tell stories for our customers – we’ll never wait for someone else to do it first.

“There’s a natural synergy between the James Cropper and Bruichladdich businesses, with both placing an emphasis on their rich heritage, sustainability, and innovation. And there’s a compelling parallel between whiskey-making and paper production, as both processes delicately transform raw materials into something more elegant and refined. It’s what made this beautiful project possible, demonstrating the power of two businesses with similar values coming together. We flipped the use of paper and Moulded Fibre to recreate a Moulded Fibre product using paper handsheets, but inside is this inspiring message delivered through Nathan’s artwork,” says Scott.

Ward, a multi-award winning artist specializing in papercraft, relished the challenge of representing two historic businesses in a single piece of art. “I was really excited by what James Cropper was doing with Moulded Fibre, which is unique to their brand,” he says. “It’s really inspiring to see how the team is pushing the possibilities of paper.

“The team made paper sheets from the same pulp that goes into Moulded Fibre, so the colors were beautifully matched. I used that to make the structures in the 3D art piece, adapting my paper-cutting techniques to work with James Cropper products such as Vanguard and the bespoke Moulded Fibre sheets that were made especially for me.”

The special project is part of James Cropper’s 180th anniversary celebrations, highlighting its track record of leveraging its heritage to create future-focused, groundbreaking innovations.