Katie Warner is a basketweaver and artist based mostly in Edinburgh, but with a workspace on a nearby farm in the Scottish Borders. She uses traditional skills to make both functional and decorative pieces from willow grown in the UK, sometimes incorporating other natural materials such as hazel for basket handles or locally grown dogwood for an extra splash of colour.
Willow basketry is an inherently sustainable craft form as the willow can be used in its raw state; the different varieties of willow provide a vast array of colours without the need for chemicals; and a basket can be made simply with a few tools and a pair of hands. It is important to Katie that her creative practice brings her closer to nature and that the pieces she creates can return to the earth when they’re no longer needed.
Katie started weaving in 2021 and was recently awarded the VACMA Early Careers Bursary. She is a member of the Basketmakers’ Association, as well as the Poldrate Arts and Crafts Centre in Haddington.
