Rowena Morris- Saddler

Rowena trained in various parts of the UK to learn all the aspects of Saddlery. In that time she learnt the trades of making a range of Bridles, Saddles & Harness Items, & learning numerous leather skills & techniques as she progressed. She also trained in The Traditional Old Fashioned Art Of Saddle & Harness Making, where everything is Completely Designed, Hand Cut, Prepared, Stitched, Made & Finished by Hand From Start To Finish! To complete the chain of subjects under the huge umbrella of Saddlery, she also went on to train to make The Driving Pad and Traditional Straw Filled Collars - The ones you sometimes see on Shire Horses. Rowena has been very busy making ever since. She would like to share her skills and expertise with others and promote this rare craft by holding various courses with us at Hands On Traditional Crafts, including making a dog collar & lead, coin purse and, mouse mat.

Michael Major-  Sculptor

Michael began his career in sculpture in 1980, having a natural ability he received commissions from around the UK and over the next few years went on to work for museums and companies involved in sculpture and design. Michael moved to Yorkshire twenty years ago, starting a project backed by English Heritage to restore the outdoor statue collection at Castle Howard. Over the next ten years he restored and re-built fifteen 18th century statues culminating in the sculpting of a new life-size statue for the Castle Howard landscape. The tradition of modelling in clay goes back many centuries and the technique of taking moulds and making casts is also an ancient tradition. These completed moulds would often be used to produce bronze sculptures. 

Angela Morris- Crochet, Tapestry, Cross stitch

Angela Morris is a Crochet, Tapestry and Cross stitch lecturer and involves herself in many other crafts and also spends many an hour with her cattle and horses. She enjoys home cooking and is very family orientated. She is married with 3 grown up children. She introduced her daughter and two sons to many traditional crafts in their childhood including Cross Stitch and Tapestry- yes boys too! Her daughter is now a Qualified Saddler and Harness maker. Angela a big believer in keeping these skills alive. She is happy to be able to pass her skills, experience and knowledge of these crafts on, so other people can learn them and hopefully in turn they to will pass it on to the next generation.

Caroline Burton- Pottery

A potter for over 25 years, Caroline makes functional and contemporary ceramics for customers abroad and in Britain such as Robert Thompson Craftsmen LTD "Mouseman". She also masterminded Hands on Traditional Crafts & Pottery, through her passion to try and keep these almost dying crafts alive. Showing our next generation our craft roots and giving them a chance to get a "Hands On" experience, will give them a unique experience and insight to our history heritage and craft origins. Sharing these crafts with adults will give unique opportunities to perhaps take a new direction or enrich what you already enjoy.

Dennis Garbutt- Master Dry Stone Waller

With 40 years experience of dry stone walling, Dennis clearly has the knowledge and expertise of this Traditional Craft which he wants to pass on. He loves being outdoors and active. His courses are to show and share his knowledge and skills of the basic beginner’s stages of dry stone walling. As weather is often unpredictable, we have an allocated area under cover in site for his courses.  All course participants are to bring with them protective footwear and gloves. 

Duncan Edwards- Enamellist

Duncan is an experienced Silversmith and Jeweller from Sheffield. His courses here will focus on the Enamelling side of the craft. A man on many Craft talents in a range of traditional crafts including Black Smithing and Hand Metal Forging, Duncan also exhibits his work across the country.  He teaches to share his knowledge, skills and passion for the crafts.

Zena Lister

Zena has been sewing and knitting since she was a child.  By the time she was a teenager she was making most of her own clothes.  Now she has a successful business making soft furnishings and household items of all kinds. Zena is very keen to share her knowledge of these crafts with as many people as possible with the aim of keeping these skills alive in the community. Her workshops will cover the basic stitches and techniques to get you started in knitting or sewing with the aim of making a pretty, useful item to take home.