Winners of the 2025 Heritage Crafts Awards

Quilt maker Deborah McGuire has won the sixth annual Patron’s Award for Endangered Crafts at the 2025 Heritage Crafts Awards, which were presented at a prestigious Winners’ Reception at Wentworth Woodhouse on 17 November 2025, supported by The Royal Mint and the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.

The award, supported by the King Charles III Charitable Fund, was one of 21 revealed at the ceremony introduced by Sonnaz Nooranvary, including the UK Maker of the Year Award won by sail maker Mark Shiner and the Lifetime Achievement Award won by shoe maker Jim McCormack, both supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust.

The Patron’s Award for Endangered Crafts, supported by the King Charles III Charitable Fund, and selected from a shortlist by His Majesty, was won by Deborah McGuire. Deborah is a hand quilter, academic historian and leading advocate committed to safeguarding the traditional technique of rocking stitch and the use of the Welsh quilt frame. Her work, which led to the inclusion of ‘hand quilting in the frame’ on the Red List of Endangered Crafts, combines academic research with active practice. She plans to use the award to support a crucial two-day integrated workshop to bring together elderly practitioners to share technical skills and create essential educational materials to ensure the survival of this working-class cultural heritage. The runners-up were ceramicist Emily Johnson, who was awarded the Patricia Lovett Award for second place, and sail maker Mark Shiner. READ MORE

The Lifetime Achievement Award, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, was won by shoe maker Jim McCormack. Jim is a bespoke shoemaker often referred to by his peers as the ‘Legend of Mayfair’ for his unparalleled skill and humble character. Since beginning his training in 1974, he has worked for the most legendary bespoke houses, including John Lobb, and has crafted footwear for members of the Royal Family. A passionate teacher, James has safeguarded critical knowledge, including the endangered French Pump technique, by mentoring a new generation of shoemakers. The runners-up were polisher Stephen M Goldsmith and rattan weaver Mick Gregory. READ MORE

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 sail maker Mark Shiner. Mark is a traditional sailmaker and Curriculum Leader for Maritime Studies in the Orkney Islands. He runs Scotland’s only traditional sailmaking course, where he teaches the ancient art of ‘floor lofting’ using arithmetic and hand skills rather than computer design. In the last year, this expertise was internationally recognised when he was invited to the Mystic Seaport Museum in the USA to train their traditional sailmaking team and research lost 19th-century techniques. The runners-up were hat maker Rachel Frost and chair makers Richard Platt and Sam Cooper. READ MORE

England Maker of the Year, supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, was won by silversmith Angela Cork. Angela is one of the UK’s leading contemporary silversmiths, recognised for her sustained excellence in practice, with sculptural sterling silver pieces held in prestigious collections, and her pivotal leadership as Principal of Bishopsland Educational Trust. Her dedication to mentoring the next generation, combined with her own high-calibre commissions, ensures the technical mastery and ethical foundations of silversmithing are safeguarded and advanced. The runners-up were basketmaker Florence Hamer and Arabic calligrapher Razwan Ul-Haq. READ MORE

Northern Ireland Maker of the Year, supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, was won by linen damask weaver Deborah White. Deborah has a 30-year career that includes weaving for royalty and world leaders. Her five-year project to restore a rare linen damask broad loom was the focus of the BBC documentary ‘The Warp, the Weft and the Weaver’. She is currently completing doctoral research to deepen the craft’s intangible knowledge base, while lecturing at Ulster University, where she was named ‘Educator of the Year’.  The runners-up were traditional plasterer Bernard Cunningham and weaver Karen Hamilton. READ MORE

Wales Maker of the Year, supported by Silverlining, was won by charcoal sculptor Billie Ireland. Billie is a sculptor and sustainable craft practitioner who is radically redefining the heritage craft of charcoal making. Working at the intersection of ecology and material transformation, she converts waste paper and biomass into large-scale, beautiful carbon sculptures. Billie is using her art to spark national dialogue on climate and craft, ensuring this ancient Welsh heritage is relevant to contemporary environmental challenges. The runners-up were straw worker Hannah Cantwell and thatcher Alan Jones. READ MORE

Precious Metalworker of the Year, supported by The Royal Mint, was won by polisher Stephen M Goldsmith. Stephen is an internationally-renowned authority in the allied trade of polishing and finishing, with over five decades of expertise. A master of the highest calibre, his career includes polishing the Premier League trophies and assisting the Crown Jeweller on the new Order of the Royal Family for King Charles III. His book, ‘Polishing and finishing for jewellers and silversmiths’, is considered the bible of the trade, and he regularly teaches his craft nationally and internationally. The runners-up were silversmith Angela Cork and jewellery maker Alice Fry. READ FULL STORY

Fashion Textile Maker of the Year, supported by the Costume Society, was won by Rachel Frost. Rachel is a self-taught multidisciplinary craftsperson and historian, making headwear and accessories for the fashion, film, theatre, television and museum industries. Driven by a passion for British heritage crafts and early fashion, she creates both historical and contemporary headwear and bags using a wide range of techniques. The runners-up were textile designer and weaver Claire Hunter and embroiderer Chloe Savage. READ FULL STORY

Emerging Leatherworker of the Year, supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation, was won by Maisie Hill. Maisie is a junior craftsperson at Silverlining Furniture who rapidly transitioned into leatherworking with no prior experience, achieving promotion in just nine months. Having recently created her own art furniture piece, Maisie blends a proactive approach with an innate talent for precision, quality, and technical skill, which rivals more seasoned artisans. The runners-up were Ella Boucht and Ana Del Rio Mullarkey. READ MORE

Emerging Upholsterer of the Year, supported by House of Sonnaz, was won by Nadya Webster. Nadya worked in journalism and communications for 25 years before embarking on an upholstery diploma, specialising in traditionally restoring challenging antique chairs. She is already a powerful educator, using public demonstrations and social media to promote the art of traditional upholstery, and is actively developing her skills in other heritage crafts like chair caning. The runners-up were Lara Birley and Ellie Lang. READ MORE

Emerging Weaver of the Year, supported by Rose Uniacke, was won by Leonie Edmead. Leonie’s practice is uniquely focused on exploring Caribbean identity and history, blending traditional techniques with contemporary influences. She is now based at Cockpit Studios, creating textiles that tell underrepresented cultural narratives through vivid colour and pattern and has been recognised with the Worshipful Company of Weavers Scholarship and Clothworker’s Award. The runners-up were Caitlin Binks and Kitty Wilson Brown. READ MORE

Emerging Embroiderer of the Year, supported by the Broderer’s Company, was won by Sophie Boylan. Sophie is currently completing the prestigious CHANEL and King’s Foundation Métiers d’art Fellowship, and has already contributed to high-profile projects for designers including Simone Rocha and Erdem. She is pioneering the development of bio-based sequin alternatives, ensuring the future of luxury embroidery is technically refined and environmentally responsible. The runners-up were Katerina Knight and Alice Long. READ MORE

Emerging Metalworker of the Year, supported by Lucy and Laurence Butcher, was won by Bernard Cunningham. Bernard is a traditional plasterer with 37 years’ experience, but his nomination was for his emerging business crafting bespoke, stainless-steel metal tools for heritage and fibrous plastering. The tools, which include hard-to-find items for scagliola and pargetting, cannot be bought in shops, and he is now expanding his range and planning to open a training facility for the next generation. The runners-up were blacksmith Claire Collier, silversmith Rebecca Oldfield and blacksmith Bradley Stuart Wills. READ MORE

The Environmental Sustainability Awards, in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust were won by Nancy Diniz and Jack Millington. Nancy is an architect, educator and director of the MA Biodesign at Central Saint Martins. This award recognises her pioneering work in bio-digital craft and the development of a patent-pending, 3D-printed, living mycelium composite. Jack is co-founder of Billy Tannery, a pioneering microtannery on a farm in the Midlands, where he transforms waste goat and venison hides using a closed-loop system with natural bark extracts and on-site water treatment. READ MORE

Trainer of the Year, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, was won by milliner Sarah Cant. Having previously headed the acclaimed HNC Millinery at Morley College, Sarah is now a lead tutor on the prestigious CHANEL and The King’s Foundation Métiers d’Art Millinery Fellowship. Her teaching is distinguished by its incredibly high standards, tireless mentorship and fiercely student-focused approach. Sarah’s influence is widespread, having trained over 125 milliners, many of whom now run their own companies or lead costume departments, ensuring professional millinery skills continue to thrive. The runners-up were lime plasterer Ben Kerslake and upholsterer Gareth Rees. READ MORE

Trainee of the Year, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, was won by Ash Appadu. After completing a Fine Art degree, Ash pursued their passion for the endangered craft of marionette carving through a year-long Puppetry Design Traineeship at Little Angel Theatre and the prestigious Homo Faber Fellowship. Ash is already an accomplished puppet maker, with their co-created marionettes being exhibited internationally and scheduled for display at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Library. The runners-up were stained glass conservator Toby Britton-Watts and blacksmith Bradley Stuart Wills. READ MORE

Community Catalyst of the Year, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, was won by Lauren Broxton. In the last year, Lauren has mobilised communities and industry leaders to halt the proposed closure of the Walsall Leather Museum, repositioning it as a vital hub for education and innovation. Her work is dedicated to overcoming barriers, and she has trained nearly 30 young people in leatherworking, encouraging them to find heritage in their own diverse backgrounds. Lauren is now founding a social enterprise to secure the museum’s future and is planning a UNESCO bid to safeguard Walsall leatherworking for generations. The runners-up were textile artist Alice Burnhope and Arabic calligrapher Razwan Ul-Haq. READ MORE

The Robin Wood Changemaker Award, supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation was won by blacksmith Alex Sowden. Alex is an award-winning blacksmith whose expertise has been recognised through appearances on television shows such as Sky Arts’ The Prince’s Master Crafters. He has used his skills to forge metal for the Ukrainian army, demonstrating an ethical framework and global civic duty to his young students. His pioneering policy of allowing accompanied minors onto his basic courses, gives teens real-world experience at the anvil, working with high-temperature metal in a commercial, yet safe and controlled environment – helping young people discover their abilities, overcome adversity and develop their self-esteem. READ MORE