Bob JOHNSTON
Shortlisted 2008

work shown : Large Skibb
Traditional woven basket using naturally coloured varieties of willow
(click on picture to see larger image)

Bob Johnston demonstrates and teaches traditional Irish basket making at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. As part of a 'living museum', he has now selected and planted over thirty varieties of willow suited to re-creating accurate traditional baskets.

Bob wants to learn how to refine his technical ability to create precise and beautiful baskets, so that he can take traditional Irish basket making in exciting new directions using his collection of willow varieties.

Funding would enable him to invest in a residential training course with the great willow basket maker, David Drew, who works and teaches in the Villaines-les-Rochers basket making co-operative in France. The skills thus learnt would both benefit his own work and be passed on to others through the workshops and courses run by Bob.