Shannon Berry has a background in coppice management and works primarily with hazel, willow, and green wood to create baskets and turned wooden wares. They have a deep interest in the relationship between land, material, and making, while sustaining the woodland traditions that support craft in the British Isles. Alongside pole lathe turning and green woodworking, they work with split wood and skein basketry to create sculptural forms suitable for galleries and collectors.
Their grant will fund mentorship by five master craftspeople where she will develop specialist skills which are rarely taught in depth in the UK. This training will allow them to advance connected strands of work: oak structural frames woven with willow skeins; traditional structural basketry such as square work and panelled construction; and turning moulds to create finely woven skein vessel forms.
In the long term they plan to establish a permanent workshop, supporting apprentices and specialist training, while continuing to strengthen connections between craft and woodland management. Their long-term vision involves widening access to woodland craft for people who may not otherwise engage in making, by providing supportive, hands-on experiences increasing confidence, practical skills, and connection with materials and landscape.
