Sarah Loughlin

2023 QEST Polly & Justin Redman Emerging Maker - Basketry
Worcestershire

Sarah is a full-time basket maker based in Worcestershire, and is co-owner of her basketry business, Hopewood Baskets. After studying a Fine Art degree in Canterbury, Sarah became a teacher and worked in education for 12 years, teaching art and craft throughout her career.

QEST funding will allow Sarah to elevate her skills with tuition from master basket maker Jenny Crisp, learning frame basketry and open-work basketry techniques. During her training with Jenny, Sarah also aims to develop a deeper understanding of her primary weaving material through learning how willow is grown and harvested.

Sarah will also embark on one-to-one training with leather worker Katy Warriner in Devon, where she will learn how to create leather straps and attachments for basketry, enabling her to expand her range of functional baskets.

Sarah’s goals are to establish a large workshop to create bespoke work for clients and sculptural works for galleries, a space that could also be used as a residency for early-career makers and apprentices in the future.

Working with willow means working with the elements, and rhythms of the natural world, forming a relationship that is ever changing from season to season, and year on year.

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