Jo Hammond is one of East Anglia’s best willow workers. Jo grew up in Suffolk and Essex and still lives nearby, close to the Stour Estuary.

Her degree in Fine Art shows itself in her feel for simple rhythmic designs.

Other qualifications include a Certificate in Countryside and Heritage Interpretation.

Jo also dedicates time to teaching classes in basketry and willow working, spreading the joy of sourcing natural resources to create something beautiful for the home or garden.

She aims to use and promote locally-grown materials and make the most of the wonderful variety of colours to be found in willow.

Jo began basket-making when living in the middle of a wood- the gift of a book opened her eyes to the weaving materials that were all around her home.

‘It’s the beauty of natural materials that still excites me, and I’m keen to source these as locally and sustainably as possible. Some projects incorporate foraged stems, climbers or leaves, and the immediacy of this process connects me to our hunter-gatherer ancestors- I’m doing what they did, and seeing the world through their eyes…’