I have some incredible news to share!
I've been awarded a £12,000 grant from Arts Council England's Develop Your Creative Practice fund to support my professional development as a traditional leatherworker and the continued development of my craft.
I first discovered traditional leatherworking about three years ago. I started teaching myself, working through endless trial, error, and pure passion.
I only officially launched this business earlier this year, pouring every single penny, hour, and ounce of energy into building this dream from the ground up.
To receive this kind of backing so early in my journey is a life-changing milestone.
Over the next six months, I am going to take my practice to a whole new level. I will be undergoing specialist training in the workshop of Nigel Armitage, a master leatherworker, author, tutor, and NVQ A1 assessor.
Nigel's book and videos were instrumental in my self-taught journey, making this a true full-circle moment.
I am so looking forward to this next chapter: critiquing, refining, and learning multiple aspects of the leathercrafting world to my heart’s content.
Through this grant, I will also get to test professional tools before investing in high-end equipment for my own workshop.
But this isn't just about me. My ultimate goal is to keep this traditional craft alive. I am incredibly passionate about using what I learn to build future community and intergenerational projects, passing these skills down to the next generation.
Thank you all for being part of this journey, and thank you to Arts Council England for believing in me!
I can’t wait for this next chapter to begin.