Client commission:
Gloucester Old Spot Rare Breed
The Brief:
The client wished to create a copy of their new pig that was more at home inside their house, the sculpture is based on a 3 month old Gloucester Old Spot.
The finished commissioned piece now at home on their estate in Wales. Made from Somerset white willow they start from £650.00 depending on size and type of willow.
Each basket is hand crafted from willow which I cultivate throughout the year. The withy’s are harvested between November to February, graded and dried.
I grow a variety of colours and different types of willow for basketmaking and sculptured work.
Willow is individually selected for each basket and then soaked to become pliable - this process can take between 7-21 days depending on the variety.
Many of my baskets have either a “hedgerow” handle or equestrian leather handle. The “hedgerow” handles (Sweet Chestnut, Beech, Hazel and Ash) are selected during the winter months whilst wondering around the Devon countryside with the dog. The leather handles are selected very often when the basket is complete, unless I have a specific piece I want to incorporate and then the basket is made to fit the handle.
Although my main medium is willow, I also like to weave sections of Birch, Rush, Willow bark, Formium and grasses.
Rotherfold Basket small £100
Rotherfold Basket Large £115
For all Basket enquiries please email vivienne_turner@icloud.com
The leather used in my baskets is recycled equestrian tack, martingales, reins, head collars and stirrup leathers etc.
Commissioned pieces have included customers old or broken bridles which makes the basket unique.
Commissions welcome
Client Commission:
Flight basket for wine tasting at the vineyard
The Brief:
Sharpham wanted a basket to hold 4 tasting glasses, with a handle and leather tag to show the starting point for their wine experience. The basket was designed so that the wine could be seen and glassed could be handled without the bar staff touching the lip of the glasses.
The first commission was for 20 baskets in 2016 with a further order of 20 in 2017. They have continued their orders, more recently for Sandridge Barton with another 20 baskets in 2022.
Sharpham have now moved to Sandridge Barton in Stoke Gabriel and continue their operating with wine tasting and tours, together with a fabulous restaurant at their new home.
Client Commission:
A rare breed White Face Dartmoor Ewe and lamb for TWOOL.
The Brief:
Create a sculptured White Face Dartmoor Sheep for Twool’s stand at the Chelsea Flower Show. The sheep needed to be portable and made of white willow to adorn the stand at Chelsea and also used at other venues throughout the country.
“Willow” now has a following on Facebook and has proved very popular on the stand including an appearance on BBC Country File when Twool were exhibiting at the Widecombe Fair (Uncle Tom Cobbly and All).
It has proved a popular design.
A full size sheep starts at £650 with lambs starting at £350.
She started off as an ideal for the South Hams Arts Trail…
I worked on her throughout the two weeks of the Trail and completed her the following year as my finished piece.
She now stands proudly in my sitting room!
