Winners of the 2024 Heritage Crafts Awards

FULL SET OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND PRESS RELEASES TO FOLLOW

Traditional boat builder Gail McGarva has won the fifth annual President’s Award for Endangered Crafts at the 2024 Heritage Crafts Awards, which were presented at a prestigious Winners’ Reception at Eltham Palace on 26 November 2023, supported by headline sponsor The Royal Mint and venue sponsor English Heritage.

The award, supported by the King Charles III Charitable Fund, was one of 25 revealed at the ceremony introduced by Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, including the UK Maker of the Year Award won by kilmaker Nicola Laird and the Lifetime Achievement Award won by maille maker Nick Checksfield, both supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust.

The President’s Award for Endangered Crafts, supported by the King Charles III Charitable Fund, and selected from a shortlist by His Majesty, was won by Gail McGarva BEM. Gail is a builder of boats, teller of stories and keeper of memories. As a traditional wooden boat-builder, she is passionate about preserving working boats in danger of extinction. Her specialism is the building of replicas or as she prefers to call them ‘daughter-boats’, breathing life into a new generation of these traditional craft. Gail plans to use the prize to build a traditionally-constructed St Ayles Skiff and pass on the skills to the next generation through the process of the build. The runners-up were watch dial enameller Sally Morrison, who was awarded the Patricia Lovett Award for second place, and damask linen weaver Donna Campbell.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, was won by maille maker Nick Checksfield. Nick is one of only a couple of professional maille makers working in the UK today, and of these, he is by far the most experienced. The restoration of original, historical pieces is a huge challenge, requiring the making of maille links in a bewildering range of styles and types. Nick has fashioned new armour pieces for some of the most famous competition jousters and historical martial artists around the world. The runners-up were silversmith Tony Bedford and Orkney chair maker Kevin Gauld.

UK Maker of the Year, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, and Scotland Maker of the Year, supported by the William Grant Foundation, were both won by kilt maker Nicola Laird. Nicola has been in the kilt industry for 32 years and has been teaching for eight years, during which time she has taught 100 students. In the past year she has taken on another young apprentice, and her kilt making courses have taken off to the extent that she has had to employ an extra person to help. She is about to finish a book she is writing on kilt making, which will include a history of kilts and tartan, a study of kilt makers through the years, and a workbook. The runners-up were multi-disciplinary craftsperson and hat maker Rachel Frost and chair makers Richard Platt and Sam Cooper.

England Maker of the Year, supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, was won by type founder and letterpress printer Nick Gill. Nick has cast type for a wide range of prestigious clients. He has published eight well-received letterpress books, and has printed presentation volumes for the Chancellor of the University of York’s new for HM the King. He is a passionate advocate for the endangered crafts of letterpress printing and type casting, and his commitment to quality and attention to detail also make him an exceptional teacher who has made a very significant contribution to preserving these crafts. The runners-up were wheelwright Phill Gregson and glove maker Riina Õun.

Northern Ireland Maker of the Year, supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, was won by silversmith Cara Murphy. Cara’s silverware has been recognised through high-profile awards including a QEST Scholarship, RDS Irish Craft Bursary, Rosy James Memorial Award, and through the public and private collections where her work is held. In the last year she has completed her QEST scholarship, following which she created a new body of silver and enamel bowls which were chisel engraved and vitreous enamelled inside and out. The runners-up were blacksmith Aaron Leach and heritage conservator Bernard Cunningham.

Wales Maker of the Year, supported by Silverlining, was won by maille maker Phil Parkes. Phil is an accredited conservator with over 30 years’ experience. Since 2018 he has been studying maille and working to disseminate understanding of this endangered craft. In this relatively short time, he has become recognised for his incredible skill, and recently completed a piece of 15th century style maille for a researcher in Australia to study the effects of different types of arrowheads against maille armour. The runners-up were antler worker Ian Dennis and jewellery maker Mari Thomas.

Precious Metalworker of the Year, supported by The Royal Mint, was won by silver spinner Warren Martin. Warren is one of the few remaining silver spinners in Sheffield, a craft that has been listed as critically endangered. He spins for a number of silverware companies and designer makers. He has spun trophies for top flight sporting competitions including football, Formula 1 and horse racing, including the Champion Stakes at Ascot. Warren has trained three people as part of Heritage Crafts’ training bursary scheme. The runners-up were jewellery maker Kitty Griffiths and hand engraver Epona Smith.

Woodworker of the Year, supported by Axminster Tools, was won by luthier Shem Mackey. Shem has become synonymous with the highest quality luthiery in the world over the past 30 years, constantly striving to improve and bring new ideas into this historical craft. He recently produced one of the most iconic of instruments, a highly decorated three manual Baryton with a total of 41 strings. The runners-up were harpsichord maker Peter Barnes and willow weaver Bob Johnston.

Fashion Textile Maker of the Year, supported by the Costume Society, was won by Shannon Bye. Shannon’s progression as a silk weaver at Whitchurch Silk Mill reflects her dedication and passion for her craft. During the last year, as well as making excellent progress in her own silk weaving practice, she has developed her capacity to lead a growing team of weaver tacklers. The runners-up were weaver textile designer and Clare Campbell and multi-disciplinary craftsperson and hat maker Rachel Frost.

Leatherworker of the Year, supported by the British Leather Industry Development Trust, was won by Natalie Thakur. Natalie has pioneered and updated traditional techniques to achieve excellence by incorporating other multidisciplinary artistic approaches such as hand painted leather marquetry and in combining specialist leather moulding work with hand crafted sculptural relief. The runners-up were saddler Andrew Hastilow and leatherworker Brad Smith.

Young Building Craftsperson of the Year, supported by English Heritage, was won by Barney Murray. Barney has already attained the highest standard as recognised by the Dry Stone Walling Association, achieving Master Craftsman certification in September this year. He has won several dry stone walling competition prizes and has acted as an ambassador for dry stone walling, taking a keen and active role in helping others develop their skills by undertaking an instructor course. The runners-up were William Blackmore and Rudy Hewlett.

Young Woodworker of the Year, supported by Axminster Tools, was won by Sean Evelegh. Sean set up his own furniture making business straight out of university, which has now been operating for over three years, making pieces for clients all around the world. In 2020 he won a TV show called ‘The Chop’, to be crowned Britain’s top woodworker, competing as a teenager against experienced professionals. He was recently was recognised by the Furniture Makers’ Company as one of 60 future leaders in the furniture industry. The runners-up were Jessie Hills and Elizabeth Jarvis.

Young Leatherworker of the Year, supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation, was won by Preethi Kosanam. Preethi is a graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai. She is deeply committed to making products that are not only functional but also profoundly expressive, reflecting her belief in the power of design to communicate meaningful narratives. Most recently, she won the prestigious Dents Prize for the most commercial and innovative glove design. The runners-up were Ana Del Rio and Shuyan Chen.

Young Upholsterer of the Year, supported by House of Sonnaz, was won by Libby Payne. Libby sought employment within the upholstery trade early in her studies, and her enthusiasm quickly led her to secure a position at a commercial workshop. Where others may have paused their formal education, Libby recognised the value of combining her studies with hands-on experience, dedicating all her time and energy to both. The runners-up were Maya Bennett and Maisie Fox.

Young Weaver of the Year, supported by Rose Uniacke, was won by Scarlett Farrer. Scarlett has been weaving for three years, after discovering her passion for it at University. In June this year she qualified as a TEX+ finalist and went on to exhibit alongside 24 other designers and makers at the Chelsea College of Arts. There she was awarded the Helga Goldman Award for outstanding contribution to future textiles. The runners-up were Sauda Imam and Natalie McCormack.

Young Embroider of the Year, supported by the Broderer’s Company, was won by Beth Somerville. Beth started a degree in plant science at Manchester University, before diverting to pursue a career as a textile designer at Falmouth University. In 2023 she was awarded the New Designer of the Year and since graduating has completed the Chanel and King’s Foundation Metiers d’Art Fellowship. The runners-up were Imogen Marmont and Rosie Merriman.

Young Metalworker of the Year, supported by Lucy and Laurence Butcher, was won by Caius Bearder. Caius is a silversmith studying silver spinning with 2024 Precious Metalworker of the Year Warren Martin. During the time he has spent with Warren he has been an exceptionally fast learner. He is also a very generous teacher himself, having supported students at Glasgow School of Art whilst an artist-in-residence and latterly as a technician. The runners-up were Caitlin Murphy and Zac Parrott.

The Environmental Sustainability Awards, in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust were won by Rachael Colley and Allister Malcolm. Through the re-imagining of historic craft skills and the elevation of food waste as a luxury material, Rachael’s jewellery questions traditional notions of preciousness and value, while highlighting issues of consumption and waste, transforming citrus peel into a biodegradable luxury leather alternative. In the past 12 months Allister has converted his glass studio from fossil fuels to renewable electricity, installed three-phase solar power, and worked with a UK manufacturer to enhance an electric furnace design.

Trainer of the Year, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, was won by costumier and corset maker Emma Brackenbury. Emma spent the first eight years of her career working as a costume maker in film, with credits including Fantastic Beasts, Artemis Fowl and Jurassic World. In 2018 she returned to Huddersfield University to complete an MA in Creative Pattern Cutting, alongside teaching on their costume course. In 2023 she set up the Corsetry Retreat, a residential course held over several days in which she and other guest tutors coach attendees through the creation of a made-to-measure corset or set of stays. The runners-up were stained glass artist Derek Hunt, heritage conservator Lynn Mathias, and upholsterer Harriet Page.

Trainee of the Year, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, was won by James Morton. James joined Ernest Wright Scissors in Sheffield at 17, bringing a passion for metalworking that began at age 12, having taught himself blacksmithing in his parents’ garden and garage. Now an apprentice at Ernest Wright, he is learning the art of metalworking from two experienced Master Putters – Eric Stones aged 81 and Cliff Denton aged 80. He excels not only in the technical aspects of metalworking but also in his deep appreciation for the art and history of the craft. The runners-up were stonemason Marlene Lagnado and wheelwright Sam Rowland.

Community Catalyst of the Year, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, was won by Dee Curtis. Dee’s journey into community activism and the founding of Urban Cure CIC began with a career in the garment trade in the 1980s. Despite being told she lacked qualifications for fashion design, her resilience led her to various roles in the industry, including garment presser, pattern cutter and designer. The work of Urban Cure in South Essex provides carers with a valuable respite activity whilst providing hands-on skills. The success of this project is paving the way for further initiatives, demonstrating the practical and therapeutic benefits of engaging with heritage crafts.

The Robin Wood Changemaker Award, supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation was won by wheelwright Sam Rowland. In August 2023, wheelwright Greg Rowland MBE had a catastrophic and life-changing motorcycle accident. Overnight, young apprentice Sam Phillips took control, finishing work that was underway, hiring extra hands to help and delivering work to London. It is safe to say that without Sam taking the reins, a long-established heritage business would not have survived. Sam recently married Greg’s daughter Lilac and changed his name to Rowland, ensuring the future of Rowland’s Wheelwrights for many years to come, when it so easily could have been lost.

FULL SET OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND PRESS RELEASES TO FOLLOW