England, Hilary Burns, Basket Weaving

Hilary Burns originally trained in textiles as a fabric weaver before taking up the craft of basket making some thirty years ago. She makes both functional baskets and sculptural pieces. She uses mainly natural materials including hedgerow materials, hazel, oak, and ash, that are all harvested locally. Working with a source of sustainable and renewable materials connects Hilary to the seasonal cycle.

Basketry is a slow craft; growing the materials, cutting, grading, drying, soaking,
gives control but adds to the making time. Hilary studies traditional basket making techniques and finds them endlessly intriguing, refined to perfectly
suit the available material and the function. She has been long interested in European techniques associated with willow and wood, which continue to be an inspiration.

Hilary is co-founder and director of Basketry and Beyond,a voluntary organisation promoting basketry techniques,the use of natural materials, sustainable construction, and applications in the widest sense.