National Careers Week maker profile: Lucy Cushley
5th March 2024
This National Careers Week (March 4-9), QEST is shining a spotlight on our Alumni who have made a career out of their craft.
National Careers Week is all about getting young people up to speed with their options for the future, developing awareness around the different pathways available including craft and making.
Through our Crafting Tomorrow programmes, QEST is inspiring a new generation of makers by offering opportunities to develop hand skills, meet professional craftspeople, and explore careers in craft and making.
For saddler and harness maker Lucy Cushley, a career in craft was her true calling.
Lucy is a 2019 QEST Saddlers’ Company Scholar based in the countryside of County Down, Northern Ireland. She oozes passion for her craft.
“I can’t go a day without saddlery. You don’t have to convince me to do it – I am ready to go as soon as I wake up and I never need to motivate myself to do it,” she said.
”For me, it provides a purpose and drive.”
Lucy’s journey into the craft started when she was 23. She had worked with horses for most of her life but discovered a love for leather and saddlery when she studied at Capel Manor College in London.
Lucy took the leap and set up her own business in 2017 – since then she has attracted a number of commissions including making props for films, horse dressings, picnic blanket carriers, guitar straps and donkey harnesses.
Primarily, she makes bespoke items of saddlery and leatherwork, and repairs and refurbishes damaged items.
She recently won a prize in the National Saddlery Competition with the Society of Master Saddlers, her Moses basket coming in first place in the President’s Choice category.
For Lucy, working with leather brings her joy.
“99.99% of everything I do is made in leather. I love working with leather because you can apply the skills you have in making a saddle or bridle to anything,” she said.
“My QEST training elevated my skills to a higher level – by achieving my Level 3 in Harness Making at the Saddlery Training Centre I became a qualified harness maker.
“I learnt the Heritage Red List craft of Horse Collar Making from John McDonald and learnt from experts at the Royal Mews, giving me specialist insight into ceremonial harnesses.”
While Lucy said running her own businesses could be a challenge, it was equally as rewarding.
She encouraged young people considering a career in craft to give it a try.
“Don’t think you need to do what everyone else is doing. Don’t let other people put you off. Trust your gut and go for it!”
Are you a maker or manufacturer? Do you want to inspire young people to consider a career in craft? Learn about the opportunities available through our Making the Future programme here: https://www.inspiringthefuture.org/campaigns/making-the-future/
Find out more about National Careers Week here: https://nationalcareersweek.com/
#NCW2024
