I have been a creative maker of some sort all my life and discovered the joy of willow basket making in 2016, learning from other skilled makers. I sell at the occasional local craft fair when I have made enough to sell and also take on a few commissions. Encouraged by friends who wanted to learn I took up teaching small classes in 2023 but am still in full time work as a Mechanical Engineer, so time is scarce.

I find inspiration from being outdoors in nature as much as possible, or watching it from my willow making shed through the window with my cats. I find the willow basket process is satisfyingly the opposite of the wood turning that I also enjoy - basketry starts from nothing to build a finished basket whereas turning starts with a solid block and subtracts until you uncover the beauty of the wood, so the two go well together.

I enjoy the process of creating a design, and making it come to life. I love making oval and rectangular baskets as I find them the most useful, usually in natural brown willows with a hint of stripped white willow somewhere which I can't resist. I enjoy the process of using my home-made drawhorse to shape ribs for baskets too. There's so much fun to be had and always something to learn from others.

I am in West Cambridgeshire, UK.