Training bursaries

Heritage Crafts is delighted to have awarded 30 training bursaries for trainees to learn heritage craft skills since 2021, supported by The Royal Mint, the City & Guilds Foundation, the Costume Society, the Army Benevolent Fund, the Ashley Family Foundation, the Principality Building Society’s Future Generations Fund, the Golsoncott Foundation, the Arts Society, DCA Consulting, Kendrick Hobbs and Jennifer Chen.

• Richard Barber, from Preston, to train with renowned jewellery maker Robin Girling in all aspects of stone setting in silver, gold and platinum.
• Caius Bearder, from Glasgow, to train in silver spinning with Sheffield-based Warren Martin.
• Logan Beckford-China, aged 16 from Cornwall, to undertake 40 days Cornish hedging training with the newly-formed Cornwall Rural Education and Skills Trust.
• Marcia Bennett Male, sculptor from London, to train in portrait work, specifically how to use a traditional pointing machine for reproducing likenesses from a clay maquette.
• Mia Brennan, from Kent, to attend the BTEC Higher National Certificate in Millinery at Morley College on a part-time basis.
• Michael Dickson, aged 18 from Hertfordshire, to study a Foundation Degree in Clocks at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation.
• Rosie Elwood, from Tyneside, to train in metal thread embroidery with goldwork embroiderer Hanny Newton and the Royal School of Needlework.
• Roy Evans, metalsmith from Gloucestershire, to develop his coppersmithing skills at Newlyn Copperworks.
• Andrew Fisher, leatherworker from Buckinghamshire, to attend courses on leather restoration and repair, seat upholstery and industrial sewing machine repair.
• Hannah Girvan, from Devon, to undertake a one-to-one apprenticeship in furniture making at Woodlab.
• Andreia Gomes, from London, to train at the VS Jewellery School in Hatton Garden, focusing on stone setting and mounting, and casting using the lost wax method.
• Abby Gray, from Glasgow, to undertake an apprenticeship with renowned tailor and dressmaker Alis Le May.
• Iona Hall, from Bristol, to train in silver box making with Kent-based silversmith Ray Walton.
• Horatio Hawes, from Nottinghamshire, to extend his internship at Lancaster Armouries, with one-to-one training from master armourer Matthew Finchen.
• Maya Howes, from Staffordshire, to attend the Corsetry Retreat in Lincolnshire to learn 18th century stay making, as well to gain additional one-to-one tuition.
• Nkosi Kerr, from London, to complete a Level 3 Bench Joinery course at the Building Crafts College, setting himself up to make significant progress in his carpentry career.
• Bodhi King, from Pembrokeshire, to undertake a number of specialised courses focusing on traditional and heritage blacksmithing.
• Toben Lewis, from the remote community of Iona, to study bookbinding one-to-one with 2018 Heritage Crafts Trainer of the Year Kathy Abbott.
• Michelle Mateo, basket maker from Monmouth, to train in split wood basketry and expand her repertoire from ask to hazel and oak splint basketry.
• Daahir Mohamed, lime plasterer from Bristol, to undertake six-month Fellowship with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
• Claire Mooney, from Newry, Northern Ireland, to train in silver spinning with Sheffield-based Warren Martin.
• Barney Murray, from Denbighshire, to undertake the Dry Stone Walling Association’s Master Craftsman certification scheme, under the mentorship of Andy Loudon.
• Leena Patel, from Edinburgh, to complete a one-year Foundation Course to provide an in-depth knowledge into the skills required to become a jewellery maker.
• Gareth Roberts, from West Sussex, to further his bookbinding training with Bound by Veterans and City Lit College.
• Emma-Jane Rule, from Leicester, to train in silver box making with Kent-based silversmith Ray Walton.
• Katie Sawyer, from Cheshire, to train one-to-one with historical textile expert Sally Pointer, as well as various courses at the Manchester School of Costume.
• Lily Smith, from Dundee, to train with Sheffield-based Warren Martin in the craft of silver spinning.
• Devin Valentine, from Southampton, to continue studying the Musical Instruments FdA at West Dean College.
• Cameron Wallace, from Clackmannanshire, to learn hand lettercutting with master lettercutter Gillian Forbes.
• Ieuan Williamson, from Gwynedd, to expand his skills into timber framing through an intensive two-week residential course.