Tear Up Festival
...watch this space for 2026 announcements
FESTIVAL WEEKEND
WHATS HAPPENING AT THE WEEKEND?
We have so much going on!
The weekend it going to be a jam packed extravaganza, celebrating all things weaving!
On offer over both days will be mini Workshops ranging from 'have a try' sessions learning about different materials, Short Workshops from 30 mins - 3hrs, Drop in sessions, Family friendly workshops, Demonstrations, a basket & sculpture Market, Talks and a specially curated exhibition.
There will be workshops on offer in - Willow, Rush, Hazel, Ash, Grasses, Coiling, pole lath turning, spoon carving + much more.
The line up of Tutors at the Festival
Francois Desplanches | Jenny Crisp | Alice Fox | Lorna Singleton | Benjamin Nauleau | Ane Lyngsgaard | Anne Mette Hjornholm | Peter Dibble | Rachel Frost | Marguerite Herlant |
Makers over the weekend offering Workshops, Demo's, talks & sales -
John Williamson - Devon maund maker | Dan Lawrence (spoon maker) | Flo Hamer - Basketmaker & Greenwood worker | Michelle Matteo - Ash splint basketmaker | Amy Leake - Bowl turner | Peter Wood (Greenwood Days) - Pole lathe turning | Dave Budd - Blacksmith/basketry tool maker | Mandy Coates - Basketmaker | Rosie Farey - Rush Basketmaker | Tom Keally - Chair Maker | Helen Munday - Basketmaker | Woodland Craft Supplies - Greenwood tool sales | Tom Hare - Willow Sculptor | McMillen Art - Cedar Basketmaking | Jeanette Gray - Fibre basketmaker | Dominic Parrette - Frame basketmaker | Polly Pollock - Coiling | Rosa Harradine - Brush maker | Phil Bradley - Basketmaker | Dan Neal - Rush seat / ladder back chair maker | Clare Revera - Basketmaker/exhibition curator | Mary Lewis - Basketmaker/exhibition curator | Jenny Crisp - Basketmaker | Francois Desplanches - Basketmaker |
Charlie Groves - Trugmaker | AliHayhurst - Hazel Hurdles | Rachel Evans - Basketmaker | Jeanny Bouwen - Basketmaker | Jefke Geysels - Skein work Basketmaker
Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining - Exhibition Artists
John Williamson - Devon Stave | Sue Morgan - Withy Pot | Rachel Frost - Heather Kishie | Hilary Burns - Oyster Tendle |
Lorna Singleton - Oak swill | Eddie Glew - Square work | Clare Revera - Cyntell | Rob Fear - Tregaron Peat Basket |
Alisha Davidson - Llangwm Cawell | Dea Neale Hopton - Welsh tea things | Mary Lewis - Marram Grass basket |
Gill Jones - Salmon Putcher | Peter Dibble - Yarmouth Herring Swill | Francois Desplanches - Irish Sciathog | Dan Neal - Rush seating | Jenny Crisp - Fitched Oval | Nadine Anderson - Eel trap | Sally Goymer - Skeined basket | Lewis Goldwater - Hazel Whisket |
John Cowan - Herring Cran | Dominic Parrette - Sussex Trug | Kevin Gauld - Orkney Chair | Eve Eunson - Fair Isle Chair |
Sam Dennis - Straw Coiling | Rachel Evans - Hazel cockle basket | Max/Claire Gaudion - Guernsey pannier |
Carol Partridge - Corn Dollies | Veronica Main - Straw plait basket | Alison Fitzgerald - Skib | Mary Butcher - Skeined basket |
Sophie Francis - Southport boat | Julie Livesey - Southport boat | Rosie Farey - Rush peat basket | Cat Beaumont - Underfoot basket | Tim Johnson - Caithness Hayve | Lin Lovekin - Cornish croust box | Angela Firth - Devon Maund |
Fiona Arnold - Yorkshire Farmers wifes basket | Selena Chandler - Mersea Island Tendle | Jo Hammond - Oyster Tendle |
Sue Kirk - Cutlery basket | Anna Liebmann - Wet linen basket | Colette Davies - Flailer's measure
JOHN WILLIAMSON
John will be demonstrating & selling his incredible Devon Stave & Maund baskets - he’s the captain of cleft Ash, the Dr of drawknife precision & we’re privileged he’s part of the festival.
DEMONSTRATOR / SALES
Read more about John Williamson.
(Photo Credit - Dan Fontanelli)
JEANETTE GRAY
Thrilled to announce the super skilled & knowledgable Jeanette will be joining us for the Festival weekend, She’ll be teaching short workshops in cordage and looping with Juncus, or coiling with wild grasses. The perfect intro to weaving with what grows around you.
WORKSHOP TUTOR / SALES
Read more about Jeanette Gray.
TOM HARE
Tom Hare is a leading light in Willow Sculptor and will be building a structure over the festival. It’s an opportunity for everyone to work together, to produce a huge temporary piece for us all to play in!
SCULPTURE DEMONSTRATOR
Read more about Tom Hare.
MICHELLE MATEO
Michelle is a Pounded Ash basketmaker & woodworker, She will have a log for people to drop in and pound and they can take any materials they can get for a donation.
Michelle will be running 2hr workshops creating steam bent handles.
WORKSHOP TUTOR / SALES / DEMO
Read more about Michelle Mateo.
MCMILLEN ART
Nick is the leading light when it comes to cedar bark basketry in the UK and we are so fortunate to have both himself and Mollie, a fantastic basketmaker in her own right, running workshops at Tear Up.
WORKSHOP TUTORS / DEMO
Read more about McMillen Art
FLO HAMER
Woodworker and Traditional Craftswoman extraordinaire, Flo will be here on Saturday 24th guiding you through the stages of ‘processing hazel weavers’ ready for basketmaking. Specialising in traditional and heritage crafts, she works with natural materials to produce high quality work that is functional and beautiful. Her work ranges from timber framing and joinery, to carving and of course basketry!
WORKSHOP TUTOR / DEMONSTATOR / SALES
Read more about Flo Hamer.
CLARE REVERA
Clare is a leading light, specialising in making high quality traditional and contemporary Welsh baskets which are inspired by the colours and materials of the landscape around her.
Clare has researched and recreated traditional Welsh baskets such as the Cyntell, the Welsh Shopper, the hazel Penclawdd Cockle Basket, the Llangwm Fisherwoman's Back Pannier and the Welsh Tea Things basket.
EXHIBITION CURATOR
Read more about Clare Revera.
MARY LEWIS
From my workshop in Lightmoor, just above the Ironbridge Gorge, I make baskets from willow, rush and locally foraged materials. I like to make functional, contemporary baskets that are inspired by traditional designs and that reflect both my English and Welsh heritage.
I also work for the charity Heritage Crafts and like to spend time messing about in coracles on the beautiful River Severn.
EXHIBITION CURATOR
Read more about Mary Lewis.
HILARY BURNS
I make both functional baskets and sculptural pieces. After moving to Devon in 1985 I planted a willow bed and use mainly natural materials including hedgerow materials, hazel, oak and ash. These are all harvested locally. Working with a source of sustainable and renewable materials connects me to the seasonal cycle.
I study traditional techniques and find them endlessly intriguing, refined to perfectly suit the available material and the function. I have been interested in European techniques associated with willow and wood for a long time and this continues to be an inspiration.
I try to find my own way to use them to create form and texture.
TALK TENT
Read more about Hilary Burns.
DAVE BUDD TOOLS
Using a combination of modern and traditional techniques, I make tools for pretty much any craft that you can think of (the range only increases as I am asked for new things!). I specialise in historically accurate tools for historical craftspeople as well as modern designs for those living in the 21st century. Not only are my tools used by reenactors, museums and the film industry, but a growing range of forgotten crafts are being revived as I am able to make the tools for the craftspeople making ancient objects for others in those sectors. Many teachers of crafts such as wood carving and basket making supply my tools to their students too.
I only use virgin steel of a known and appropriate grade for the metal parts and the wood used in my handles is all harvested from the 10 acre woodland which surrounds my workshop. The tools are even forged in charcoal made on site! Historical and modern tools alike are made to the highest modern standards.
SALES / WORKSHOP TUTOR
Read more about Dave Budd.
TOM KEALY
Tom is a furniture designer, maker and tutor. Since completing his training at Parnham College in 1979, he's run his own business designing and making bespoke furniture to commission for individual clients. He now mainly teaches, using the skills and experience he's gained over the years to help todays students develop their knowledge and love of working with wood.
DEMONSTRATOR
Read more about Tom Kealy
DOMINIC PARRETTE
Dominic is a Sussex based basketmaker, willow grower and teacher specialising in traditional frame baskets, organically woven willow forms and beautiful, strong plant supports.
He sources willow, sweet chestnut, and hazel from local coppice and is committed to sustainable woodland management.
DEMONSTATOR / SALES
Read more about Dominic Parrette.
ROSIE FAREY
Rosie is an accomplished & incredibly talented weaver of rush. She is best know for her miniature rush baskets, some as small as a penny. Her range of baskets is very varied and Rosie's work is uniquely hers.
SALES / WORKSHOP TUTOR / DEMO
Read more about Rosie Farey
MANDY COATES
Mandy has been living and working in North Wales as a basket maker for almost 40 years, using traditional skills to bring out the natural beauty of her material. From her hillside studio in the Elwy Valley Mandy weaves baskets in her individual and distinctive style, bringing together the varying colours of her homegrown willow, plaited bulrushes and laths of different woods.
SALES / WORKSHOP TUTOR / DEMO
Read more about Mandy Coates
POLLY POLLOCK
Polly is a well respected figure in the UK basketry scene, Polly has been teaching on the City lit 2 year basketry courses since 1987/88 and will be retiring from that teaching this July.
So many of the UK’s best known basketmakers have passed through her hands at some time or the other.
Polly will be doing a residency in Berlin next year - one of 5 residencies, as part of the "All Hands On : Basketry" exhibition at Museum of European Culture.
WORKSHOP TUTOR
Read more about Polly Pollock
ROSA HARRADINE
Rosa is a brush and broom maker living in wild West Wales. Working with natural, sustainable materials is really important to her. She's inspired to make pieces that are beautiful as well as useful & she's certainly ticked both boxes, they're incredible!
SALES / WORKSHOP TUTOR / DEMO
Read more about Rosa Harradine.
PHIL BRADLEY
Phil is a professional basket maker, living and working in North Cumbria.
Most of the willow he uses is home grown next to his workshop.
He is also a very talented greenwoodworker creating regular batches of stools, shrink pots and spoons.
Phil will be teaching his legendary, unrivaled cooling trays.
SALES / WORKSHOP TUTOR / DEMO
Read more about Phil Bradley.
DAN NEAL
Dan is a third generation rush seat chairmaker in the family, starting all the way back with Ernest Gimson in the late 1800's. His dynasty is unmatched in the chairmaking world and the knowledge passed down through the generations is priceless.
Dan will be demonstrating his incredible work over the weekend.
SALES / DEMO
Read more about Dan Neal
DAN LAWRENCE
Using almost exclusively foraged wood from fallen trees, Dan's main motivation is to explore the natural characteristics of wood and the relationship with simple hand tools.
"My aim is to share a fascination that comes from uncovering hidden stories within trees, in the form of grain patterns, exposing subtle textures (something I believe the modern world is lacking) and the humble connection to nature that comes with using wooden ware made by hand in our everyday lives."
SALES / WORKSHOP TUTOR / DEMO
Read more about Dan Lawrence
GREENWOOD DAYS
Greenwood Days is a purpose built woodland teaching centre based in a beautiful 90 acre wood on the edge of the National Forest.
Peter Wood has been running the exceptional Greenwood days for nearly 30yrs. They run over 60 courses a year, teaching beginners and experienced people a wide range of heritage crafts.
WORKSHOP TUTOR / DEMO
Read more about Greenwood Days.
WOOD MUNGLER - AMY LEAKE
My green woodworking adventures were ignited many years ago thanks to my woodburner. As a child I loved whittling sticks in the garden with my penknife and had a great little treadle jigsaw on which I turned out gifts for my family. With a lack of woodculture around me these were shelved for a while, but I'd always been interested in finding out about practical uses for the plants and trees I saw around me.
When I got a woodburner for my home I began to gather firewood and started to wonder about the different qualities of the tree species. Working with hand tools is the best way to learn about the grain, strength and characteristics in the wood and the continuing fascination is this variation and the endless subtle design variations possible.
SALES / WORKSHOP TUTOR / DEMO
Read more about Amy Leake.
HELEN MUNDAY
Much of the willow I use is home grown from cuttings I specially selected for it's basket making qualities. I harvest it myself in the winter months, seeing the process through from start to finish which gives my practice a circular and sustainable ethos.
Studying the ancient craft of basketry over the years has given me a rich understanding of the material and how it behaves, this is gained through doing and repetition. I made my first baskets on a weekend course in rural Herefordshire with Jenny Pearce 13 years ago. I knew then that I had to explore more, 'I got the bug!' continuing at home with the notes I'd made and a book on basketry for beginners I was able to practice and repeat the basic round basket. From then I knew that that was what I wanted to do, the way the willow felt in my hands, the smell of it, it just felt natural.
WORKSHOP TUTOR / SALES
Read more about Helen Munday.
NADINE FOX
Nadine teaches spoon/bowl carving, barkcraft and green woodworking courses to adults and children.
I feel a deep connection to the land and my work because I make my crafts from the ground up, either growing, coppicing or foraging my own materials, scraping, splitting and processing them by hand with axes and knives and then shaping and decorating them into lovingly crafted functional items.
WORKSHOP TUTOR / SALES
Read more about Nadine Fox.
CHARLIE GROVES
Charlie Groves has been hand-crafting Sussex Trugs in a range of traditional styles dating back over 150 years. Ideal as a gardeners tool and a beautiful gift The Trug Store are proud to be the supplier to everyone from the keen gardener to the The Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley.
DEMONSTRATOR
Read more about Charlie Groves.
RACHEAL EVANS
Rach runs Wheatcroft Willows from the heart of Staffordshire. Incredibly talented, her work is varied from coffin & traditional basketmaking to split hazel Basketry.
Rach runs workshops throughout the year too.
DEMONSTRATOR
Read more about Rachel Evans.
JEANNY BOUWEN
In 2000 I wove my first basket from a book I found in the library. From the beginning I was attracted by the material and quickly started looking for real craftsmanship. Jan De Vos and José Schilder from basketry 'de Mythe' taught me this craftsmanship, both in the field of growing the ideal wicker willow and the technique of weaving. I have continued to sharpen my knowledge and skills over all these years. Many fueled my passion.
In 2013 I started my own business and opened its doors.
It has been clear for years that our son shares this passion. At the age of five he made his first basket. But his real passion lies in fine shin work. Because of his enthusiasm, we followed a two-year training course with Esmé Hofman from 2019 to 2021. This gives an extra dimension to our workshop. We dream of further developing the future together.
DEMONSTRATOR / SALES
Read more about Jeanny Bouwen.
JEFKE GEYSELS
Jefke had a passion for basket making from a young age. Growing up in a basketmaking family, his mother Jeanny is an exceptional maker, he's been surrounded by willow.
His passion is in Skeined willow basketmaking.
He recently won the world cup of basketmaking in Poland which is a huge accolade.
The future of our craft is in safe hands.
DEMONSTRATOR / SALES
Read more about Jefke Geysels.
ALISTAIR HAYHURST
Alistair began in 2000 and was initially focused on manufacturing and supplying Wattle Hurdles. Over the years the business has expanded to include the production of a wide range of coppice products and related services. From the rugged beauty of cleft fencing through to the more subtle and tactile willow a wide variety of traditional fencing can be produced and supplied to cater for all partitions and boundaries.
DEMONSTRATOR / SALES
Read more about Alistair Hayhurst.