James Morton

James joined Ernest Wright metalworks at the age of 17, having taught himself blacksmithing in his parents’ garden from the age of 12. He is learning the art of metalworking from two experienced craftsmen who are teaching him traditional techniques and basic skills which have been passed down through generations. The hands-on experience he has got through his apprenticeship has helped him pick up skills quickly and he is known in the workshop for making scissors and shears, combining the old techniques with new ideas to create detailed pieces. James’ dedication to preserving and reviving traditional methods makes him a valuable asset to Ernest Wright and the wider crafting community. He has a deep appreciation for the art and history of the craft, and embodies the spirit of craftsmanship. With his exceptional skills and unwavering commitment, James ensures that traditional metalworking techniques continue to thrive in the modern world. He helps to highlight the relevance and beauty of these skills and is safeguarding them for the future. 

Eleanor Wright

Eleanor obtained a degree in Fine Art where she learned woodwork, metalwork and glass skills, before moving to the University of Glasgow to study a degree in Physics and Astronomy. She expressed an interest in exploring how fine art and physics in theory and practice interact and secured funding to create workshops and research groups to exchange knowledge between the two disciplines, and conducts this research alongside her training in piano restoration. Eleanor is based at Glasgow Piano City, which employs technicians to work on donated pianos to prevent their neglect and disposal, allowing her access to a wide range of instruments. Her training includes a variety of jibs from tuning by ear, restoration which includes looking into the history of the instruments and polishing and repairing the pianos, both in the workshop and on site in client’s homes. Eleanor is an experienced piano player and therefore understands what is required from the musician of their instrument which, when accompanied with the skills from her degree, gives her a good grounding in this craft. 

Photograph credits to Stefen Jakubowski and Heritage Crafts.

Eden Sorrel Russell

Eden has ridden horses all of her life and from a young age, she learnt traditional leather craft and bag making and training at the Saddlery Training Centre in Salisbury. Eden completed her formal training and gained all of her qualifications in traditional English saddlery, provided by City and Guilds in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Saddlers. She is qualified as a Harness maker and in saddle making. Under The Society of Master Saddlers, Eden has taken qualifications and courses in Harness fitting, saddle fitting and bridle fitting. She intends to continue to expand her knowledge of the craft working alongside experienced master saddlers and working horse experts across the country. In 2019, Eden won the Society of Master Saddlers competition, to create a bespoke bridle that showed her artistic and design ability. Her relationship with working horses has influenced and aided her knowledge and enabled her to have a greater understanding of how this ancient equipment is used in a practical way. Eden has set up her own business and has already started taking commissions to make hand made traditional equine items and leather goods, which also includes restoring and repairing old leather goods. Eden has gained confidence and gravitas from her training to be able to train the next generations and to pass on her craft and knowledge.  

Niam Chauhan

Niam is conducting training in Violin making and repair at the Newark School of Violin Making. He began self-teaching before taking up formal training both in schools and colleges and with private companies. During his training at the Newark School, he has learnt to construct, varnish and set up violins to a professional standard. He has also learnt about the history of the practice and further context around the craft throughout his training. Niam is only 21 and has already dedicated 8 years of his life to the maintenance and studying of old instruments, exploring advanced areas which most have not had the chance to learn about at the same stage in their training. He wishes to encourage others to take interest in this rare discipline and the history and context that surrounds it, through general conversations, appearances at maker fairs and through social media. Niam’s referee, Melvin Goldsmith, describes him as having impeccable character with a great ambition and enthusiasm to progress in the craft.

Richard Platt and Sam Cooper

Richard and Sam have been keen hobbyist woodworkers for a number of years. Richard studied Music at The University of Manchester, and Sam studied Mechanical Engineering at Portsmouth University and has set up a small workshop in his spare room. Richard and Sam have been training for just under two years to make traditional rush seated ladder back chairs, including harvesting and proper care of raw materials, woodturning, chair construction and rush seating. They have learned directly from someone who had avoided having an apprentice or teaching for all his life.  There was no documentation, process or structured plan for their learning but to go the extra mile to uphold the traditions of their trainer. They are becoming advocates for their craft at public events and are a credit to the extraordinary legacy of which they are part of and shown they are self-starters.  

Richard and Sam are currently in the process of opening a rush seated chair making workshop in Marchmont, the first of its kind since 1958 and hope to offer both courses and apprenticeships to help spread their craft to a wider audience. They use skills and techniques passed down through 5 generations of chair makers and now remain the only rush seat ladder back chair makers in the UK. Without them the tradition would have been lost, but they are now committed to training the next generation and bringing the craft into the modern world.  

Watch the Awards Presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWM7T4yAOVc