Fund a Maker

2022 QEST Jasper Weldon Scholar

Sofia is a designer and maker of wooden furniture and sculpture, blending traditional craft and contemporary techniques. With support of a QEST Jasper Weldon Scholarship, Sophia undertook a bespoke programme of tuition at Williams & Cleal, focusing on advanced carpentry skills such as steam bending and lamination, as well as building upon her complementary skills such as sketching, CAD and design.

"The support I received from QEST has been integral to my journey and truly life-changing. I wouldn't have been able to access the training I have received without them, and I will be forever grateful."

2023 QEST Carpenters’ Company Scholar

Marquetry and parquetry artist Carl innovatively fuses leather and wood veneer to create thought-provoking, tactile artworks. With QEST funding, Carl learned traditional steam bending techniques, advanced veneering methods, and wood finishing and patination procedures with Williams & Cleal, Abdollah Nafisi, Kevin Stamper and Barnaby Ash of Ash & Plumb.

“My grant has supported me in many ways, but the confidence it has given me to experiment with my materials has been the most valuable. My practice has moved forward in a totally different direction to how I envisaged, and it is definitely a testament to how, by being given the opportunity to develop a skillset, you can carve your own little corner of the craft world."

2025 QEST Benefact Trust Emerging Maker

Grace is an embroidery artist whose work is inspired by heritage buildings, particularly churches, cathedrals and the Arts and Crafts movement. Her grant has supported a course at the Royal School of Needlework, as well as a bespoke natural dye programme with Kate Turnbull at The Secret Dyery, deepening her technical mastery, strengthening her studio practice, enhancing her teaching, and supporting a future pathway into heritage restoration.

2024 QEST Grandey's Place Emerging Maker

As Polin Guitars, Chris creates bespoke electric guitars and basses. With support of QEST, he completed two courses at Crimson Guitars covering every aspect of the guitar build process, with deep dives into design elements.

"The QEST funding that I received enabled me to learn new skills in acoustic instrument construction, and I am now building a commission based on the options I am now able to offer. The whole process has been rewarding and hugely beneficial, I’m very glad I applied."

2018 QEST Garfield Weston Foundation Scholar

Rosanna is a textile artist and designer, celebrated for her distinctive silk screen-printing, hand-painted compositions, and richly layered, maximalist aesthetic. A QEST Garfield Weston Foundation Scholarship supported her MA in Printed Textiles at The Royal College of Art.

"Without a doubt (being a QEST Alumnus) has changed the trajectory of my career. Not only by providing ample opportunities of work, exhibitions and competitions but also providing an unrivalled community of the most passionate and talented craftspeople. Being a creative can be a lonely and sometimes questionable career path, especially being self employed, but QEST perfectly plugs that gap with their constant encouragement and unwavering support."

2024 QEST Cordwainers’ Company Emerging Maker

Bespoke shoemaker William offers boots and shoes under his name and also supplies work to Savile Row companies. With QEST funding, William mastered the skills of ‘closing’ shoes with Lucy Smith in England, and travelled to Paris to learn wooden heel fitted shoe construction from Antoine Besnard at Massaro.

"The acquisition of these new skills have made me more independent, and self sufficient in my work, hopefully providing some stability to my practice long term. The work which I was able to examine from other artisans during my training has filled me with new ambition and ideas - and fed my enthusiasm, which I now hope to fulfil in new projects going forward"

2025 QEST Jasper Weldon Apprentice

Isaac is an apprentice furniture maker specialising in rush-seated chairmaking at The Marchmont Workshop in the Scottish Borders. QEST funding supported a full-time two-year apprenticeship under the guidance of workshop founders Richard Platt and Sam Cooper, deepening Isaac’s skills in traditional greenwood techniques and rush seating.

"I have been grateful to have the support from QEST - it helps me to feel in a more secure position as an apprentice and makes me feel more comfortable with taking the time to practise a technique without worrying."

Since 1990 through the generous support of our donors, QEST has awarded individual grants to 900 craftspeople working across the UK in 130 craft disciplines.