Judy Simmonds

Impressed twenty years ago by film footage of a Peruvian footbridge spanning a deep river chasm re-made each year from grass,  Judy studied willow constructions with Malcolm Seal, Linda Lemieux, Joe Hogan, Tom Hare, Welsh coracle builders, and split ash with American Jamin Uticone.  After ten years devoted to practicing the Perigord Spiral basket and Celtic Knot platter, she studied advanced technique with Norbert Faure and old friend David Drew at the willow cooperative in Villaines-les-Rochers on the Loire.

Judy has taught at the Scottish Basketmakers Circle, and Northumberland Basketmakers Group and has experience of teaching other teachers to further develop skills. She had an exhibition:  ‘Rhythm,  Renewal and Reinvention’ at  Ruthinin in  2021 and is represented by Berdoulat, Bath.

Describe your approach to teaching
Everyone absorbs new information and techniques in different ways and at a different pace. Tuning in to the individual is key as well as learning from each other, and setting high levels of attainable aspiration. I enjoy creating a light-hearted atmosphere coupled with serious intentions.

What inspires your own work?
Excellence, in a word.  Whatever artistic sphere one encounters, a special quality will make a hand-crafted object stand out and become memorable.  That becomes a spur to push further in one’s own work.