Rachel Harwood

I have been working with willow for over 12 years and love to explore the relationship between heritage, nature, and place. Using sustainably sourced Somerset willow, I create fun sculptural forms inspired by the natural world, capturing moments of movement, stillness, and quiet observation. My practice is rooted in a deep respect for natural materials, allowing the organic qualities of willow to guide each piece.

Drawing on time-honoured techniques, reimagining willow beyond its functional origins, my work emerges through a process of rhythm, tension, and responsiveness to the material, placing a traditional craft within a contemporary sculptural context.

Alongside my studio practice, I share my skills through workshops and courses, contributing to the continuation and evolution of willow weaving and invite viewers to reconsider a familiar material—encountering it not only as craft, but as a living connection between landscape, history, and making.

• Basketry
• Garden Structures
• Willow (Basketry)
• Willow Sculpture