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The Guardian - Back to homeThe Guardian

The artisans

Meeting artists and craftspeople in their working environments, from the traditional to the cutting edge, and learning about their processes and working methods

11 December 2023

  • Artisan glassblower Will Shakspeare making the final batches of the 5,000 Christmas baubles he creates each year at his studio in Langport, Somerset.

    ‘If I start thinking I hate making baubles that’s the time to retire’: Will Shakspeare’s craft – in pictures

    The artisan glassblower, who has perfected his skills over more than 25 years, creates Christmas baubles at his studio in Langport, Somerset

5 July 2023

  • Alan Oliver in his studio in Walworth, south London

    ‘What makes a good weaver is experience’: Alan Oliver showcases his craft – in pictures

    Alan Oliver is a weaver, dyer and printer who uses traditional craft processes to make handwoven rugs, wall hangings and printed textiles

30 May 2023

  • Darryl Kelbrick uses a traditional ring kiln to create barbecue charcoal

    Burning ambition: the life of an artisanal charcoal maker – in pictures

    Darryl Kelbrick shows Christopher Thomond the painstaking process behind artisan charcoal burning, a practice he has spent the past decade learning in an ancient coppiced woodland where he lives with his partner off-grid

24 March 2023

  • Nathalie Hildegarde Liege, stained glass artist at her studio at English Bridge workshop in Shrewsbury, Shropshire

    Shining a light on a stained glass artist – in pictures

    Nathalie Hildegarde Liege is an stained glass artist, artisan and the owner of Couleurlive Limited, and has a studio in the heart of Shrewsbury. Nathalie studied fine art and worked at the Pompidou centre in Paris before deciding to change career to work in glass

15 November 2021

  • Sievewright Steve Overthrow making traditional wooden sieves and riddles in his workshop at Langport, Somerset.

    Taking the strain: the last sievewright – in pictures

    Steve Overthrow is the only traditional sievewright trading in the country and possibly the only one making sieves and riddles by hand worldwide. Our photographer Christopher Thomond was invited into his workshop

19 August 2019

  • Rosie makes each guitar by hand using mostly wood sourced from Britain.

    String theory: how to make an acoustic guitar – in pictures

    Rosie Heydenrych, an artisan luthier, has been making acoustic guitars by hand for about a decade. She shows Christopher Thomond around her workshop in Newchapel, Surrey, and explains the guitar-making process

12 August 2019

  • Traditional canal boat painter Phil Speight

    Canal boat painting – in pictures

    Phil Speight is one of the most experienced and influential canal boat painters in the country. He has earned an enviable reputation not only as a painter but as a teacher of the traditional skills he cares about so passionately

22 February 2019

  • Craig Struthers restoring a 1920s Rolex Rebberg wristwatch

    The art of watchmaking – in pictures

    A master watchmaker and an antiquarian horologist at their family-run workshop in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham

24 July 2018

  • Topiary designer Darren Lerigo clipping yew and box at Balmoral Cottage in Benenden, Kent.

    Cutting hedge technology: topiary – in pictures

    Darren Lerigo, a topiary designer and founder of Modern Mint talks through the techniques used to make the perfect garden

2 July 2018

  • Charlie Macpherson

    Blowing hot air: glass artists in Dorset - in pictures

    Amanda Notarianni and Charlie Macpherson, glass artists at Notarianni Glass in Poundbury in Dorset See more of The Artisans series as we showcase craftspeople in their workplaces

7 May 2018

  • Artisan scissor maker Grace Horne at work

    Blade runner: a Sheffield scissor maker – in pictures

    Arriving in Sheffield 25 years ago, Grace Horne’s plan of being taught to be a cutler by the renowned Stan Shaw did not go to plan

1 March 2018

  • Jamie Kunka

    The mountain artisan: skis crafted from wood – in pictures

    Jamie Kunka is founder of Lonely Mountain Skis, based in Birnam, Perth and Kinross

20 February 2018

  • Silversmith Shona Marsh

    Do you know an artisan working in the UK? Share your stories

  • Jaega Wise, head brewer at Wild Card Brewery in Walthamstow, London.

    A London craft beer brewer – in pictures

15 January 2018

  • Tom Warmerdam at Demon Frameworks in Southampton

    A modern engineer building classic bicycle frames – in pictures

    Tom Warmerdam turned his passions for cycling and engineering into a career at Demon Frameworks in Southampton, where he designs and builds unique custom-made steel-frame road bikes

10 November 2017

  • Margaret Owen, the only female haaf netter in the country, is hoping to keep the Viking tradition alive on the Lancastrian coast

    Viking fishing on the river Lune - in pictures

    Margaret Owen is hoping to keep the Viking tradition of haaf netting alive on the Lancastrian coast

20 October 2017

  • Silversmith Shona Marsh in her studio at Cockpit Arts in Deptford

    A modern-day silversmith – in pictures

    Shona Marsh creates jewellery and lifestyle objects out of fine metals, woods and gems using traditional silversmithing skills in her London studio

2 November 2016

  • Michael May in his workshop

    Revival of the little mesters: a Sheffield pocket knife maker – in pictures

    Cutler Michael May, who makes pocket knives from his workshop in the city, is helping to lead a 21st-century revival of the craft. Thousands of ‘little mesters’ once made small tools and cutlery across Sheffield but the skills have almost disappeared in recent years
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