A voice for craft

Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.

Polina Volochay, from Glasgow, has a background in film and television costume and has gained hands-on boatbuilding and rigging experience through voluntary work on traditional vessels. Her bursary will fund an apprenticeship-style placement in Shetland with sailmaker @sew_far_north to construct a mainsail for a Baltic schooner, tuition for a traditional sailmaking course with @sailmaker_shiner at @uhiorkney, and a heavy-duty portable walking foot sewing machine.

Polina’s bursary is supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

Polina said: “Receiving this award from Heritage Crafts is incredibly meaningful for me. I’m excited for the dedicated time I’ll have to practice my craft and the quality of teaching I’ll be able to access as a result of their support. I am looking forward to becoming a part of the enlivening and resilient use of traditional skills!”

Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.

Olumide Emmanuel Faleti (Minuel), from Renfrewshire, is the founder and creative director of footwear brand @minuel.uk and leads the @oefinitiative, an educational craft project. His bursary will help fund his place on the Complete Shoemaking and Footwear course at the @londonfashioncollege, mastering core pattern cutting, closing, lasting and construction processes.

Minuel’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.

Minuel said: “Securing this funding is a significant step forward in my shoemaking journey. It will give me the opportunity to develop my traditional shoemaking skills through specialist training, strengthen my craft practice and help me contribute to keeping these important skills alive for future generations.”

Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.

Emmaly Crimmel @crimmelemmaly, from Swansea, is an MA Glass student at @glass_swansea_college_of_art with a background in fine art, drawing and wood crafts. Her bursary will fund specialist glass painting, engraving and conservation masterclasses with leading practitioners @jonathancookestainedglass, @zoe_boulton_glass, @tracey.sheppard_, @derekhuntartist and @rachelphillipsglass, as well as essential traditional tools.

Emmaly’s bursary is supported by the Ashley Family Foundation.

Emmaly said: “The funding gives my work in stained glass greater depth and purpose by providing access to specialist training and tools. Learning directly from incredibly talented craftspeople who inspire me, alongside having access to specialist tools in my own studio, will help me shape a practice that is truly my own. More than anything, this bursary transforms ambition into reality.”

📷 @zoe_boulton_glass

Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.

David Bimudu Scott @bimu_woodcrafts, from Brighton, has a background in law and education, currently completing the first year of fine furniture making at the @buildingcraftscollege. His bursary will fund tuition and essential hand tools for his second year of study on the Level 3 Fine Furniture Making programme.

David’s bursary is supported by the @cityandguildsfoundation.

David said: “This funding will help me grow as a furniture maker, giving me the space and time to explore creatively and develop my skills.”

Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.

Laura Kriefman @laurakriefman, from Devon, is an established leaded stained glass artist who is expanding her practice into glass blowing and bending. Her bursary will fund intensive workshops and mentoring with four neon specialists, including Amy Zachariah and Bill Horwood @southwalesneon, @hoarp and @vivid.neon.sweden, reviving neon sign making in the South West.

Laura’s bursary is supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

Laura said: “I am humbled to receive this support. This funding will make a dramatic difference to my ability to learn how to make neons, and to explore combining it with my stained glass work. Without this funding I would not be able to pursue such a focused and deliberate period of learning and mentorship. I can’t wait to see how my skills develop.”

📷 @sylvaindeleuphotographer

Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.

John Allison, from Hertfordshire, has spent over two decades in the British Army and public service and has developed self-taught leatherworking and repair skills. His bursary will fund his place on the Worshipful Company of Saddlers Level 1 programme at @capelmanor and one-to-one training with Jacquie Lawson at the @autointerioracademy.

John’s bursary is supported by the Royal British Legion.

John said: “This bursary means an awful lot to me. It will give me the opportunity to develop the traditional leatherworking and restoration skills I need to turn a long-standing passion for preserving historic objects into a sustainable craft practice and, in time, pass those skills on to others.”

📷 @walsallleatherskillscentre

Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.

Alex Hawes @alexhawes_embroidery, from Surrey, combines fashion, embroidery and costume making. She has a long-term vision to establish a unique costume house that foregrounds embellishment and embroidery, and will mentor future craftspeople. Her bursary will fund an intensive costume making course at the @themanchesterschoolofcostume.

Alex’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.

Alex said: “With the support of a Heritage Crafts, I am training as a costume maker at the Manchester School of Costume. This, in addition to my existing practice as a hand-embroidery artist, will give me the confidence and connections to work in the UK film and TV industry as an embellisher/maker.”

Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.

Lee Gordon, from London, is a self-taught maker in vitreous enamelling, metalwork and watch assembly. His bursary will fund a comprehensive training programme in watch dial enamelling and metalwork, including weekly studio tuition with Paul and Tamika Ravn, classes with @janemoorejewellery at @theforgespace, portrait enamelling with Gillie Hoyte Byrom and hand engraving with @handengravers.

Lee’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.

Lee said: “This funding turns an endangered craft from something I frequent in borrowed workshops into a practice I can sustain, innovate in and share with others.

“It gives me the chance to innovate and refine ideas that would otherwise stay as rough experiments …and to work in a way that respects the limits and strengths of my mental health whilst keeping an endangered practice alive.”

📷 @lgstudio_