The skills
THE NATIONAL CHARITY for Heritage Crafts
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Heritage Crafts was set up just fourteen years ago. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, advocating at the highest levels for crafts, publishing the Red List of Endangered Crafts, and distributing 66 grants through the Endangered Crafts Fund. We have awarded 30 training bursaries, established the Heritage Crafts Awards and shone a spotlight on our world-renowned makers through 30 National Honours successes.
Many more people are now aware of traditional crafts and the objects produced by those who carry in their hands, heads, and also hearts the skills and techniques that have been passed down through the generations.
To continue this work we need your support. Please consider making a donation, however big or small, to help ensure that heritage craft skills in the UK are given the opportunity to thrive.
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Post 2/2. Following a record year of stellar nominations, the finalists for this year’s Heritage Crafts Awards have been announced. Thanks to our supporters and judges, and congratulations to all of the finalists. The winners will be revealed At Goldsmiths’ Hall on Monday 23 November 2026, supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation and the @thegoldsmithscompany.
The finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Precious Metalworker of the Year (supported by @royalmintuk)
• @clive_burr_silversmith
• Anna Rennie @artisansilversmith
• Benjamin James Ryan @bjrdesigns
Fashion and Textile Maker of the Year (supported by the @costume_society) – pictured
• Alis Le May @alis_le_may
• Christopher McEvoy and Chantal Allen @_vevar – weavers
• @harvysantoshats
Woodworker of the Year (supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation)
• @phillgregson
• Ewan Sinclair @sinclairleith
• Lyndie Wright marionette maker
Emerging Leatherworker of the Year (supported by @theleathersellers)
• Matthew Bailey @baytinetannery
• Liza Keane @lizakeane_
• Beatrice Shepherd @missy_b25
Emerging Upholsterer of the Year (supported by @house_of_sonnaz)
• Amy Drummond
• Suzanna Page @sp_fineupholstery
• Nicolle Wilson @n.wilsonupholstery
Emerging Green Woodworker of the Year (supported by @woodsmith_uk)
• Simon Cooper @the_bumbling_basketeer
• Jordan Harris dartmoorgreenwoodhandles
• Elbie Owens @owens___outdoors
Emerging Building Craftsperson of the Year (supported by @spab1877)
• Mariam Ashraf @moma_white_place
• Freya Dargavel @boomerangwoodworking
• @tobias_wright_
Emerging Stained Glass Craftsperson of the Year (supported by @bsmgp)
• @kerrycollisonart
• @kerriehanna
• @the.glass.nest
Emerging Weaver of the Year (supported by @roseuniacke)
• Hannah Brown @hheeddvvbb
• Ruth Farris and Bea Uprichard @fishbone.sycamore
• Sven Steinmetz @formweben
Emerging Embroiderer of the Year (supported by the Broderers’ Company)
• Lucy May @embroiderthetruth
• @katarina_orolinova_art
• @tiharasmith
Emerging Metalworker of the Year (supported by Lucy and Laurence Butcher)
• Yuyi Cheng @yuyi0932
• Marc England @lynxtogether
• Henry Le Page @henry_le_page
Post 1/2. Following a record year of stellar nominations, the finalists for this year’s Heritage Crafts Awards have been announced. Thanks to our supporters and judges, and congratulations to all of the finalists. The winners will be revealed at Goldsmiths’ Hall on Monday 23 November 2026, supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation and the @thegoldsmithscompany.
The finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Patron’s Award for Endangered Crafts (supported by the @kingcharlesfund) – pictured
• @eveeunson
• Mark Norris Scottish harp maker
• @deborahwhite7481
England Maker of the Year (supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation)
• @allistermalcolmglassltd
• Mark Marchant @ceramicmouldsuk
• Lyndie Wright marionette maker
Northern Ireland Maker of the Year (supported by @mournetextiles)
• @thomaskeyesartist
• Jane McCann @ona_byjanemccann
• Andrea Spencer @aspencerglass
Scotland Maker of the Year (supported by the William Grant Foundation)
• Alis Le May @alis_le_may
• Christopher McEvoy and Chantal Allen @_vevar
• Craig Peebles @welbyandwright
Wales Maker of the Year (supported by @hiutdenim)
• @anncatrinevans
• Lewis Prosser @clovisvosser
• @veritypulfordartist
Lifetime Achievement Award (supported by @marshawards)
• @clive_burr_silversmith
• Keith Edwards pigment maker
• @andrew_loudon
• Lyndie Wright marionette maker
Trainer of the Year (supported by @marshawards)
• Keith Edwards pigment maker
• Mark Matthews @mmsailsolutions
• John Roberts marionette maker
Trainee of the Year (supported by @marshawards)
• @ayham_aldoghim
• Toby Britton-Watts @tbw.glass
• Stephen Green millwright
Community Catalyst of the Year (supported by @marshawards)
• Valeria Leonova @artvaleria
• Paul Naylor @cambrianharps
• Piarve Wetshi @_colechi
We will post about each of the shortlists over the next few weeks.
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Joanne Kelly @jokellyart, 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.
Joanne said: “I am absolutely beaming with pride to begin my apprenticeship with Ed Hall, renowned contemporary banner maker. I have been totally in awe of Ed’s extensive legacy in this craft and his solidarity with union workers. Since Ed has already been so generous with his time towards me, I am thrilled to have secured this funding to finance his tutelage so that I can continue learning from him as I pursue my own career in banner making.”
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Jake Mann @mj.leatherwork, 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 @walsallleatherskillscentre and the Saddlery Training Centre in Salisbury.
Jake’s bursary is supported by the Dulverton Trust.
Jake said: “Securing this funding means a great deal as I am just building my business. This will help fund me to further my training and myself in leatherwork and saddlery.”
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Shirley Nelson @shirleynelsonjewellery, 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 @connelly.linda, developing advanced wet pack, engraving and cloisonné techniques.
Shirley’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
Shirley said: “I’m thrilled to be offered a Heritage Craft bursary! It will allow me to learn the fundamentals of enamelling and elevate my craft skills under the tutelage of Linda Connelly, a true expert.”
📷 @julietsheath
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Isobel Blackburn @isobel_blackburn_costume, 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 Petersson to master traditional tailoring techniques and full suit construction.
Isobel’s bursary is supported by the Ashley Family Foundation.
Isobel said: “I’m so excited to have the opportunity of pursuing further training in tailoring thanks to the Heritage Crafts bursary. I came to costume making as a career change to pursue something I’m passionate about, and through doing so have discovered a love for tailoring and historical making. Having this opportunity of one-to-one training is going to help me to grow and refine my skillset, something I just wouldn’t be able to do to the same quality without the help of Heritage Crafts and the Ashley Family Foundation.”
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
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_violin_making.
Viola’s bursary is supported by the Dulverton Trust.
Viola said: “Attending Newark School of Violin Making has been my dream for over two years. Heritage Crafts and teh Dulverton Trust have helped make it a reality.”
This September saw the presentation of the inaugural Lady Mayor’s Livery Apprentice Awards to celebrate twelve outstanding apprentices across the City’s historic Livery Companies, as part of her Heritage Crafts Taskforce.
Hayden Mackenzie @studiohaydenmackenzie, upholsterer, was nominated by the @theupholdersliverycompany.
Hayden Mackenzie is an upholsterer and textile designer who brings a unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and vibrant contemporary design to his practice. As the founder of Studio Hayden Mackenzie, he specialises in bespoke upholstery alongside hand screen-printing and digital pattern design tailored for luxury interior fabrics. His high-end interior collection ‘The Macaroni Club’ draws inspiration from the flamboyance of the Grand Tour to celebrate early icons of queer style. Hayden’s keen eye for detail, worksmanship and respect for historical upholstery, has seen him work sympathetically on the Royal Collection’s upholstered furniture.
Congratulations to all the winners and to former Heritage Crafts Chair Patricia Lovett MBE and Richard Hefford-Hobbs for organising the awards.
