ABOUT

Hi my name is Jane Wilkinson.

I was originally drawn to working with willow out of a love for trees and woodlands and also from a desire to do something sustainable. Basketry was the perfect solution. I now grow and harvest an increasing proportion of my own willow, and then have the pleasure of weaving it into a basket or sculptural piece.

I have been weaving for 17 years and am constantly learning new techniques which have been used to make a range of traditional baskets. During this time I have travelled in Scotland, Ireland, England, and New Zealand, where I have worked with the local crafts people and discovered a great diversity of style and approach.

In my current work I feel challenged to preserve, continue and develop the traditional techniques which I have mastered, whilst being inspired to incorporate them into new and innovative designs.

I often work on community art projects, which draw on the inspirations, skills and input of local residents, school children and other community groups

Contact: specialbranchbaskets@gmail.com or 07729016850

CURRICULUM VITAE

1996 - 2014 Teaching basketry, hurdle & coracle classes throughout Scotland.
2011 - 2014 Part-time Conservation Project Leader for DightyConnect Environment Group, Douglas, Dundee
2007 - 2011 Part-time Forest School Practitioner Perthshire primary schools

2014 Christmas Exhibition, with Alyth Arts & Craft Guild, Alyth, Perthshire
2014 Tutor, Coracle Course for Abriachan Community Woodland, Near Inverness-shire
2014 Appearance on BBC ALBA gaelic current affairs, leading a coracle paddler down the Tay Descent
2014 Exhibition, Perthshire Open Studios, own workshop, Alyth, Perthshire
2014 Willow Tunnel Installation, Enchanted Forest Event, Pitlochry, Perthshire
2014 Invited Demonstrator, Royal Highland Show, Ingleston, Edinburgh
2014 Appearance on Landward, in coracle on River Spey, BBC Scotland
2014 Boyne Currach commissioned by the National Coracle Centre, Cenarth, Wales
2013 Travellers' Bough Tent; willow sculpture for Stories in the Land Exhibition, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh.
2013 Woven panels for the Hebridean Drying Barn, an archeological reconstruction project for the Applecross Landscape Project, Inverness-shire.
2013 Artist in Residence for Blairgowrie High School decorated coracle project.
2013 100 foot long Willow Entrance Fence at a new cemetery in Drumsturdy Road, Dundee, for Dundee City Council.
2012 Weaver in residence for the Royal Scottish Geographical Society's Drove Road Project, Highland Perthshire
2011 Traditional basketry classes for 'Journeys in Nature' Project, for Spey Grian Educational Trust, Kingussie
2010 Decorative willow panels, 300 ft long, for Dundee City Council, Broughty Ferry Beach, Dundee
2010 Artist in residence for 'Metamorphosis' an art project run by the Arts Development Group, Meigle Primary School, Perth & Kinross Council.

2007 - 2009 Short courses for the Forest Education Initiative, training adults in forest education activities.

2009 Woven bird hide screens for the Wildlife Garden at Inchture Primary School.
2009 Woven willow screens with Training For Work Employees at Arbroath, Angus.
2009 Open studios, basketry exhibition, Kirkmichael Perthshire.
2009 The Big Fish, willow and fabric sculpture for Alyth Start Festival.
2009 300 foot long sculptural willow screens delineating desire lines on Broughty Ferry Beach for Dundee City Council.
2007 Forest School Level 3 Practitioner's Award gained.
2007 Decorative willow panels made with Fife primary school children for the entrance of the Big Tent Festival of Stewardship, Falkland, Fife.
2007 Woven willow panels for the wildlife garden at Coupar Angus Primary School.
2007 Decorative willow fence for the Butterfly Garden at Alyth Primary School.
2007 150 ft long decorative willow fence, Baxter Park, Dundee.
2006 Living willow sculpture, Straloch Primary school, Perthshire.
2006 Woven room dividers with stained glass for Pushing the Boundaries Exhibition, Inverness and later touring throughout Scotland and Northern England
2006 Decorative willow screens, Sandmartin nesting bank project, Broughty Ferry Environment Project , Dundee.
2005 - 2007 Education work with primary schools for the touring "Woodland Bus", Forestry Commission @ Countryside Trust, Perthshire.
2005 Tutor for the Scottish Basketmakers' Circle AGM and Forest Education Initiative Schemes.
2005 200 foot long willow screen, Camperdown Park. Dundee City Council.
2005 Invited artist at the Pittenweem Arts Festival, exhibiting contemporary baskets.
2005 Reconstruction of Spey Curragh for Elgin Museum and coracles for Port Soy Boat Festival.
2005 Decorative screens and willow puppets for "River of Words" Project, Royal School of Dunkeld, Perthshire.
2005 Presentation for Applied Art Scotland, Edinburgh College of Art.
2004 Willow fire sculpture and woven panels, community art project, Art in Kinross, Perthshire Arts Council.
2004 Basketry & garden structures tutor for Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh.
2004 Decorative willow screens for Breadalbane Academy, Aberfeldy.
2004 Large sculptural "Boat Seat", Broughty Ferry Environment Project, Dundee.
2003 Living willow sculptures, Grounds For Learning Project, Perthshire.
2003 In-service teacher training, living willow sculptures and basketry classes, Orkney Education Department.
2003 Decorative willow screens and weaving classes, Silvery Threads Project, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.
2003 Living willow domes, Fife Education Department.
2002 - 2003 Working with the Fife Museum and Arts Bus project, Kirkcaldy Museum.
2002 'Plantweave Exhibition', baskets and willow hut installation for Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh.
2001 Basketry Exhibition, For The Furniture Co. a New York Gallery
2001 Woven barriers for RSPB nature reserve, Vane Farm, Kinross, Fife.
2001 Exhibition installation, woven screens for 'Return of the Natives' , Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.
2001 Willow mural, for the Broughty Ferry Environment Project, Dundee.
2001 Research publication, 'Craft Willows in Scotland', for Millennium Forest Scotland Trust
2000 Artist in residence for Shetland Arts Trust, Street as Gallery Project
2000 'Celebrating Scotlands' Crafts', traditional basketry exhibition at the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
2000 Basketry Judge for the Royal Highland Show, Ingleston
2000 Appearance in Vogue Interiors magazine, with contemporary baskets
2000 'New Work' solo exhibitionfor the Royal Botanic Garden Exhibition Hall, Edinburgh.
2000 'Willow and Wood',solo exhibition, Crawford Arts Centre, St. Andrews
1999 - 2000 Scottish Arts Council award for Individual Development
1999 Appearance on 'Grow For It', Grampian Television
1999 'Willow', basketry exhibition at Abbot's House, Dunfermline
1999 'Reflections', exhibition at The Pittenweem Arts Festival, Fife.
1999 'Scottish Select,' exhibition by the Association for Applied Arts, SEEC,Glasgow
1998 Appearance on The Home Show, Scottish Television
1998 'Centre of Attention', basketry exhibition at The British Council, Edinburgh
1998 'Regional Variations in Basketry and Willow Production' lecture, Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery
1998 'Willow Growing and Propagation', lecture, National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh
1998 'Making Weaves - The Basket maker's Art', Exhibition at the National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh
1997 - 1999 Chair of the Scottish Basket Makers' Circle
1997 'Woven Images', exhibition at the Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries.
1996 - 1999 Teaching adult education classes for Fife Council.
1996 Kilmartin House, Argyll - commissions for museum collection.