The Norfolk Basket Company is a partnership between myself and my wife and former apprentice Ruth Kidd. I have been making baskets professionally since 1985. Helped with a grant from the Rural Development Commission I was apprenticed to a Basketmaker in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, where I learned a full range of traditional English willow basketry
Together we cultivate around forty varieties of willows on our three willow beds in Norfolk. We cut willows in January and use these alongside willows from Somerset and France to make a full range of traditional and contemporary work. We sell from our workshop, our website and at several exhibitions from Hatfield to Harrogate.
I have also taught several times for the Basket Makers Association on their week long summer/spring schools in York, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire. Students from these courses have since attended my weekend courses.
In 2003 I taught 4 courses on Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada, Ruth and I returning in 2004 and 2005 to teach on Salt Spring Island, Gabriola Island and Mount Vernon, Washington,U.S.A
We have a workshop at our home in Burgh next Aylsham, Norfolk, which is always stocked with a full range of basketry. We also sell by mail order and a colour leaflet is available on request. Commissions also undertaken, please contact us to discuss your requirements.
from small fruit pickers to willow furniture. Ruth has been making baskets since 1997.
Every year we attend the renowned Fete de la Vannerie in Provence, the largest Basket Festival in France, where we exchange techniques with basket makers from all over Europe. Many of our designs are influenced by the European baskets we see at the Festival.
My teaching experience started with Adult Education classes in Norfolk back in 1989, these proved very successful, so much so that I decided to arrange my own weekend courses and in 1998 offered ten courses which were very well attended. Many students re-booking for further courses, some students returning many times and several now working as professional makers.