James Morton, Scissor Maker

Heritage Crafts Trainee of the Year Award 2024

James Morton has won the 2024 Heritage Crafts Trainee of the Year Award, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, including a £1,000 prize awarded at a special presentation at Eltham Palace on Tuesday 26 November 2024.

The award celebrates an outstanding student of heritage crafts, whether that’s through a formal apprenticeship scheme, a less formal traineeship, an institution-based course with a high degree of practical training, or even be pursuing ‘portfolio-style’ training comprising of short-courses and workshops.

James Morton joined Ernest Wright Scissors in Sheffield at 17, bringing a passion for metalworking that began at age 12, having taught himself blacksmithing in his parents’ garden and garage. Now an apprentice at Ernest Wright, he is learning the art of metalworking from two experienced Master Putters – Eric Stones aged 81 and Cliff Denton aged 80. James excels not only in the technical aspects of metalworking but also in his deep appreciation for the art and history of the craft.