35 new training bursaries awarded

Heritage Crafts is delighted to award 35 new bursaries for trainees from across the UK to learn heritage craft skills, supported by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation, the Dulverton Trust, the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, the City & Guilds Foundation, the Ashley Family Foundation, the Royal British Legion, the Newby Trust, Soane Britain, and Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie.

These follow 19 bursaries awarded earlier this year. Each one of these bursaries provides up to £4,000 to support heritage crafts trainees whose talent might otherwise be lost to the sector were it not for vital additional hands-on training at the start of their career.

• John Allison, from Hertfordshire, has spent over two decades in 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 Capel Manor College and one-to-one training with Jacquie Lawson at the Auto Interior Academy.
  John’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.
• Zainab Bello, from Cardiff, is a healthcare worker and founder of the womenswear brand SISI CLARA, having developed her pattern cutting and garment construction skills through independent study. Her bursary will fund her place on the SEG Awards Level 3 Award and Certificate in Fashion and Textiles at the Fashion Technology Academy, focusing on advanced tailoring and structured garment construction.
  Zainab’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• Isobel Blackburn, from Penarth, recently completed a Masters in costume design and construction, developing a strong passion for hand sewing and historical costume making. Her bursary will fund bespoke one-to-one training with professional costume maker Veronica Peterson to master traditional tailoring techniques and full suit construction.
  Isobel’s bursary is funded by the Ashley Family Foundation.
• Sophie Buckingham, from Cardiff, has a background in textile design, printmaking and community arts, combining creative practice with vitreous enamelling. Her bursary will fund bespoke one-to-one tuition in London with silversmith Jacky Oliver, focusing on traditional metalworking, three-dimensional construction and fastening techniques.
  Sophie’s bursary is funded by the Dulverton Trust.
• Daniel Cope, from Northampton, recently finished a factory-based footwear manufacturing apprenticeship. His bursary will fund intensive one-to-one training sessions in bespoke shoemaking with master shoemaker Robert Elek, covering hand lasting, welting, insole preparation and finishing.
  Daniel’s bursary is funded by the Dulverton Trust.
• Emmaly Crimmel, from Swansea, is an MA Glass student at Swansea College of Art with a background in fine art, drawing and wood craftsmanship. Her bursary will fund specialist glass painting, engraving and conservation masterclasses with leading practitioners Jonathan Cooke, Zoe Boulton, Tracey Sheppard, Derek Hunt and Rachel Phillips, as well as essential traditional tools.
  Emmaly’s bursary is funded by the Ashley Family Foundation.
• Olumide Emmanuel Faleti, from Renfrewshire, is the founder and creative director of footwear brand Minuel Designs and leads the OEF Initiative, an educational craft project. His bursary will help fund his place on the Complete Shoemaking and Footwear course at the London College of Fashion, mastering core pattern cutting, closing, lasting and construction processes.
  Olumide’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• Reece Gilroy, from London, has been working at an eyewear workshop in East London, developing skills in spectacle making. His bursary will fund a four-day intensive one-to-one course in Nice with master French spectacle maker Sébastien Garnier, focusing on traditional metal frame crafting, assembly and finishing to bring the endangered skill back to the UK.
  Reece’s bursary is funded by the Newby Trust.
• Vitalija Glovackyte, from Manchester, works as a piano technician assistant at the Royal Northern College of Music and runs an independent restoration practice. Her bursary will fund specialist grand piano servicing and one-to-one regulation training with Doug Chapman at the Royal Academy of Music, alongside a technician masterclass at the C Bechstein Technicians’ Academy in Germany.
  Vitalija’s bursary is funded by the Dulverton Trust.
• Amelia Goncalves, from London, has a background in fashion communications and styling, having developed foundational practical making skills through short courses and mentoring. Her bursary will contribute towards tuition fees for the Theatre Costume course at RADA, focusing on traditional costume construction, corsetry and pattern cutting.
  Amelia’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• 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 Jane Moore at FORGE, portrait enamelling with Gillie Hoyte Byrom and hand engraving with the Hand Engravers Association.
  Lee’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• Elliot Greenfield, from London, is a self-taught jeweller and the founder of jewellery label EX-A. His bursary will fund one-to-one weekly masterclasses in traditional hand engraving and stone setting with master diamond setter John Daniels FIPG.
  Elliot’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• Amar Grewal, from Middlesex, transitioned into ceramics following a career in hospitality and has spent time volunteering alongside professional potters to develop his making skills. His bursary will contribute towards tuition fees for the two-year Diploma in Ceramics at Clay College Stoke, focusing on production throwing, hand-building, glaze formulation and kiln firing.
  Amar’s bursary is funded by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Jasmine Harper-Jones, from East Sussex, has a background in ceramics and glass and currently works as an FE college art and design technician. Her bursary will fund a series of intensive one-to-one training visits with prestige artist Lee Price at Duchess China 1888 in Stoke-on-Trent, focusing on traditional on-glaze painting, raised paste and enamel jewelling.
  Jasmine’s bursary is funded by the Dulverton Trust.
• Alex Hawes, from Surrey, combines fashion, embroidery and costume making. She has a long-term vision to establish a unique costume house that bridges embellishment and enamelling, and will mentor future craftspeople. Her bursary will fund an intensive costume making course at the Manchester School of Costume.
  Alex’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• Rachel Holding, from London, has practised reverse glass gilding and sign painting for six years alongside a professional career as an advertising creative. Her bursary will fund bespoke one-to-one training with master craftsman Robert ‘Umberto’ Walker, developing advanced reverse glass water gilding, acid etching and brilliant cutting.
  Rachel’s bursary is funded by the Dulverton Trust.
• Rachel Jacobs, from London, has seven years of experience in library collections and is currently in her second year of the BA in Book and Paper Conservation at City & Guilds of London Art School. Her bursary will support her tuition fees as she advances her training in historic bookbinding, tear repairs, pigment preparation and paper conservation.
  Rachel’s bursary is funded by the Dulverton Trust.
• Matthew James, from Swansea, runs Gower Limework and is an SPAB Fellow with experience in heritage plastering and traditional building conservation. His bursary will fund an intensive one-week Level 1 course in lead welding and bossing at the Lead Sheet Training Academy, along with essential leadworking toolkits.
  Matthew’s bursary is funded by the Ashley Family Foundation.
• Nancy Johnston, from Kingston-upon-Thames, is an oboist and music educator who has developed traditional furniture upholstery skills through adult education classes. Her bursary will fund the first year of the AMUSF Diploma at Shoreditch Design Rooms, covering traditional springing, stuffing and stitching techniques.
  Nancy’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.
• Joanne Elizabeth Kelly, from Merseyside, holds a master’s degree in Art and Politics and is a self-taught banner maker with work held in the Working Class Movement Library collection. Her bursary will fund a twelve-week, one-to-one apprenticeship with renowned contemporary trade union banner maker Ed Hall.
  Joanne’s bursary is funded by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.
• Laura Kriefman, 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, Bill Horwood, Peter Hoare and Tommy Gustafsschiöld, reviving neon sign making in the South West.
  Laura’s bursary is funded by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.
• Henrietta Lawrence Van Pooss, from Kent, has gained extensive volunteering experience in heritage conservation with the National Trust and completed an intensive marble sculpting internship in Athens. Her bursary will contribute towards tuition fees for the two-year combined Level 2 and Level 3 Stonemasonry course at the Building Crafts College in London.
  Henrietta’s bursary is funded by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Lisa Lloyd, from Oxfordshire, has a background in fashion, textiles and art lecturing, having trained informally with master upholsterers. Her bursary will fund the 12 Steps to Upholstery Success programme at the Oxford School of Upholstery, alongside specialist short courses in leather upholstery.
  Lisa’s bursary is funded by the Dulverton Trust.
• Jake Mann, from Gloucestershire, holds City & Guilds qualifications in bridle, saddle and harness making from Capel Manor College. His bursary will fund advanced saddlery, harness and bridle training modules across the Walsall Leather Skills Centre and the Saddlery Training Centre in Salisbury.
  Jake’s bursary is funded by the Dulverton Trust.
• Domal McKenzie, from London, is an independent menswear designer currently completing a residency at Makerversity. His bursary will fund two intensive courses at the London College of Fashion – the Bomber Jacket course with Anthony Princi and the Menswear Pattern Cutting Intensive with Nicholas Williams.
  Domal’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• Em Mount, from London, has a background in illustration and community kitchen management, currently completing the first year of a heritage masonry diploma. Their bursary will cover the remaining course fees for their second year of study in stonemasonry at the Building Crafts College in London.
  Em’s bursary is funded by the Newby Trust.
• Shirley Nelson, from London, holds an Intermediate Jewellery Certificate from Morley College and runs her own jewellery business. Her bursary will fund eight days of one-to-one home tuition with award-winning enameller Linda Connelly, developing advanced wet pack, engraving and cloisonné techniques.
  Shirley’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• Zane Palmer, from Luton, has five years of self-taught experience in jewellery fabrication, casting and CAD through his brand concept 33&Co. His bursary will fund a phased seven-day masterclass programme in micro-pavé, grain setting and advanced stone setting with master diamond setter John Daniels FIPG.
  Zane’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• Viola Prokopova, from Middlesex, represents the eighth generation of violin makers in her family and has studied violin making both in the family workshop and in the Czech Republic. Her bursary will fund her first-year tuition fees on the Fundamentals of Violin Making programme at the Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts.
  Viola’s bursary is funded by the Dulverton Trust.
• Gavin Roberts, from Somerset, is an army engineer transitioning to civilian employment who has completed six modules towards his historic building repair qualification. His bursary will fund four remaining West Dean College diploma modules covering lime plasters, slate and stone masonry, earthen mortars and wildlife management.
  Gavin’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.
• Chiazam Saint Venit, from Croydon, has completed Level 1 Bespoke Tailoring at Newham College alongside art and design foundation studies. His bursary will fund his tuition for a pattern making course and SEG Awards Level 3 Award in Tailoring at the Fashion Technology Academy, as well as the Bespoke Drafting at London Academy of Bespoke, preparing him for a tailoring house apprenticeship.
  Chiazam’s bursary is funded by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
• David Bimudu Scott, from London, has a background in law and education, currently completing the first year of fine furniture making at the Building Crafts College. 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 funded by the City & Guilds Foundation.
• Evie Spurdle, from Birmingham, has a background in competitive armoured combat and previously worked as an apprentice armourer crafting ceremonial cuirasses for the Household Cavalry. Her bursary will fund one-to-one masterclasses with Fred Ryall of Ryall Armouries to build a late-period armet helmet, and with Graham Ashford of Greenleaf Workshop to learn gauntlet articulation and steel heat treating.
  Evie’s bursary is funded by Soane Britain.
• Noah Staley-Mathews, from Nottinghamshire, is a 15-year-old home-educated maker with a deep passion for historical weapons and armour, having produced several helmets, shields and swords for buhurt combat. His bursary will fund 38 weeks of bi-weekly one-to-one masterclasses with professional armourer Matthew Finchen of Lancaster Armoury, alongside specialist workshop equipment.
  Noah’s bursary is funded by Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie.
• 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 Davie Meddes to construct a mainsail for a Baltic schooner, tuition for a traditional sailmaking course with Mark Shiner at UHI Orkney, and a heavy-duty portable walking foot sewing machine.
  Polina’s bursary is funded by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

Heritage Crafts Executive Director Daniel Carpenter said:

“These bursaries take our combined grants, awards and bursaries schemes past £1 million awarded to deserving heritage crafts practitioners and micro-businesses over the lifetime of our charity. That money has transformed the trajectories of over 400 makers. We’re calling on the government to make similar investments at key moments to set makers and businesses on the path to fulfilling and viable careers, adding to the resilience of the UK economy and the richness of our living heritage.”

Click here to see the previous 133 bursaries awarded since 2021.