Celebrating British Craftsmanship
A profile piece in this gorgeous new book by QEST
Step into the richly storied world of the craftsmen & women supported by QEST.
Commissioning Body: QEST
Book Title:
Celebrating British Craftsmanship
Designed by:
Prof. Phil Cleaver of et al design consultants
Publisher:
impress-publishing.com
Book launch:
October 2018
The Project in Brief
I am proud to be one of a hundred QEST alumni featuring in Celebrating British Craftsmanship, a book of photographic portraits by Julian Calder with accompanying craft stories by Karen Bennett.
QEST is the charitable branch of the Royal Warrant Holder’s Association. I was awarded a scholarship in 2007 to continue my research and develop my practical skills in the field of Elizabethan wall painting. My affiliation with the Trust has been pivotal in my creative practice and I urge anyone pursuing a career in craft to apply for funding, training or apprenticeship.
The vibrant photograph Julian took at my studio was great fun to shoot and it was a privilege to be in the hands of such a respected photographer.
Here’s how the QEST website describes the book:
“A Celebration of British Craftsmanship provides a glimpse into the vibrant, richly storied world of some of the craftsmen and women that the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) has supported throughout its lifetime.
Founded by the Royal Warrant Holders Association, on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s 90th Birthday, QEST’s aim remains the same today as it did at its inception in 1990 – to sustain Britain’s cultural heritage by supporting excellence in British craftsmanship through funding the training and education of talented and aspiring craftspeople.
This stunning 240-page hardback book features 100 portraits and stories of QEST Alumni from across the United Kingdom, revealing a wealth of skill, knowledge, respect for traditions, and an abundance of innovative spirit. From an armourer to basketmakers; a block-printer to ceramicists; a calligrapher to silversmiths; a charcoal burner to milliners; to stone carvers, weavers and many more, representing over 80 crafts, from the traditional to the contemporary.
The net proceeds from sales of this book will enable QEST to support the next generation of professional craftspeople, who hold the future of British craftsmanship in their hands.”
