Sourcing materials in the UK?

It really depends what type of material you're looking for. :confused:

For the popular LaDoll paper clays you'd probably have to buy overseas online, even if you buy from a UK based supplier you have to pay additional VAT and the cost of them shipping it into the UK. Because of this I decided to use polymer clays and reusable wax for my first attempts. But there might be a savvy UK based doll maker who knows something more about sourcing paper clays, there is a recipe on the forum somewhere too if you wanted to make your own paper clay.
You should also check out Europe based suppliers! You never know what might be available just around the corner.

I get wooden round beads and styrene balls for joints from my local Hobbycraft.
Fred Aldous also carries some useful random things.

Going down the wax --> porcelain route and got a lot of supplies from
Tiranti and
Ellies Dolls.
and ebay...

Ellie's Dolls would only be good for things like wigs, doll stands and cosmetic items if you're making a resin doll, and you need to order by phone, but for porcelain doll making they're the only place I can find, they have a real shop too, but are very quick to deliver if you don't live nearby. There is a porcelain doll making supplier called Dear Dolly Aral, but they are winding down stock and retiring and haven't updated their website to reflect this, the stock they display (but most of the time can't actually provide, so don't order from here) on their web shop is very similar (if not identical) to what you can buy from Ellie's Dolls, or you can give Ellie's Dolls a ring and ask for a catalogue.

Tiranti have all sorts of traditional sculpture supplies conveniently in one online store, from basic plaster and waxes to PU resin and silicone rubber. It's my Holy Grail supplier . They're also very quick to deliver. They do sell paper clays but they have to be kiln fired. A lot of artists on the forum are using epoxy putty to make their dolls, which you can buy at very reasonable prices from Tiranti, (Milliput or greenstuff), but it isn't reusable. They also have vacuum casting equipment for rental if you don't want to buy yourself a vacuum chamber to make a handful of resin dolls.

This Place sells great quality mohair and viscose specially prepared for wig making. Sadly it isn't wefted though.

I hope some of these are useful, if you haven't made a final decision on what to sculpt with I recommend looking into reusable supplies, they make any mistakes so much easier to bear.

 

There's a Welsh Taxidermist specialist called JHT you can find on eBay uk. He supplies Aves apoxie sculpt and various interesting animal acrylic eyes. :3 I've often considered a harpie or various monster designs after looking around his store.
Otherwise, I personally use Hobbylink Japan to get my Ladoll in bulk. I've order from them 2 times before for 5 blocks of Ladoll Premix & original. Just don't use FedEx. I used them because it said "20% off" and it ended up charging me £15 for custom fees. I've also ordered Mori Mori Patty from them which I thought was a weird japanese apoxie but turns out to be a polyester putty which is very toxic. >.>