Announcing Mastercrafts, a new book to accompany a major new primetime BBC2 TV series presented by Monty Don

Mastercrafts Rediscover British Craftsmanship Tom Quinn ISBN: 978-0-7153-3643-4 · hardback · 256 pages · 500 colour photos · £20 Publication: February 2010 · Mastercrafts book accompanies prime-time 6-part BBC2 TV series, presented by Monty Don, scheduled to be broadcast February 2010 · Rediscovers and celebrates all aspects of traditional crafts, including woodcraft, thatching, weaving, stone masonry, metalwork and glass making · Showcases some of Britain’s leading master craftsmen and women and explains the techniques at the heart of their trades Connects with current enthusiasm for authenticity, sustainability and individuality Presented by Monty Don, the 6-part TV series will follow teams of untrained enthusiasts as they learn traditional crafts from experts in their trade. Mixing a fascinating insight into the crafts and their history with a competitive element, the programme comes with a crucial, deeper message – that these crafts are a vital part of our heritage, which will die if the skills are not passed on to future generations The accompanying book, written by Tom Quinn, showcases the lives and the work of the master craftsmen and women in the series, and explains the techniques at the heart of their trades. (See next page for details of the craftspeople featured.) Mastercrafts will strike a chord with all those who appreciate that a handcrafted object is intrinsically more pleasing than a cheap, mass-produced one, and who believe that traditional crafts are an integral part of our culture that must be preserved. Author Tom Quinn is a writer, editor, author of several books on country matters, and a social historian. He is a former editor of The Countryman and is currently the editor of Country Landowner magazine. Keep up-to-date on the latest news from Mastercrafts on our facebook page www.facebook.com/mastercrafts For further information, to see a review copy or to set up interviews and extracts contact Stacy Hill on stacy.hill@fwmedia.com or 01626 323254 The mastercraftsmen and women Included in Mastercrafts are fascinating full-colour features on: · Woodcraft with Guy Mallinson, who gave up running a highly successful London cabinet-making business to set up his own green wood furniture-making business and workshops teaching green woodcraft in a remote part of West Dorset, where he has created a unique camp under wigwam-like tents heated by open fires. Here he practises his craft year-round. · Thatching with Matthew Williams and David Bragg, determined to restore the tradition of long-straw thatching to their region of Oxfordshire. · Stone masonry with Andy Oldfield, who changed career at the age of 31 and is now a stonemason at the National Trust’s Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. · Weaving with Margo Selby, London-based award-winning textile designer. · Metalwork with Don Barker, a blacksmith with a forge near York, who comes from a 200 year old family tradition of blacksmithing. · Glass making with glass artist Sophie Lister Hussain, creator of exquisite pieces from her London studio. The crafters all have stories to tell about their life journeys and how they reached their level of skills. Most are available for interview, as is author Tom Quinn. Did you know? - Craft facts and figures · There are an estimated 11,000+ businesses working in the UK in traditional, heritage and contemporary crafts · 82% of these businesses employ less than 5 people · Only 35% of craft workers are female · Craft employment growth increased by 11% between 1997 and 2006, one of the highest growth rates of the creative and cultural industries · In the traditional and heritage crafts a significant 40-50% of practitioners report that demand is such that they need to turn work away · More than half of craft makers earn less than £20,000 per annum · The growth in environmental awareness and interest in purchasing locally produced products has increased interest and demand for craft and heritage products · The majority of those entering craft are adults seeking a second career. In the traditional and heritage crafts, where many new entrants are urban professionals, this trend has almost completely supplanted the hereditary route which previously predominated Educational opportunities in adult and further education in craft are diminishing