“Weaving can transform the inner and outer landscape of our lives. My aim is to create beautiful inspirational pieces that combine functionality with a sculptural quality.” Sarah Le Breton
Located in Devon, South West England, Sarah Le Breton is a professional basket maker • designer • teacher renowned for honouring and being inspired by our UK basketry heritage whilst drawing from her sculptural roots.
In her Devon garden studio Sarah handcrafts baskets, backpacks, statement lighting features and chair seating.
Always inspired by heritage baskets, Sarah celebrates the craft form that she loves by making beautiful, practical and innovative baskets. Sarah aim is to showcase traditional basketry techniques and highlight the beauty of natural materials, in so doing creating baskets, lighting features and chair seating that is perfect for modern living.
Whilst developing as a basketmaker Sarah actively sort out training from those grounded in apprentice-led, commercial basketmaking. This has including training with a 4th generation maker on her local Somerset Levels.
Sarah believes that the methodology, traditional English techniques and skill set that she has been fortunate to learn are vital to the continuation of the craft form. Hugely influential for Sarah, this is reflected in all her making, commissions and teaching. Also, through specifically developing work that encompasses this approach, it is Sarah’s aim to facilitate a living wage for UK basketmakers, enabling highly skilled aspects and knowledge of the craft form to reach future generations.
Over a decade ago Sarah established her successful freelance teaching business creating bespoke willow courses including her much in demand Willow Day Workshops. During this time Sarah has been involved in teaching projects throughout the UK and Europe. Clients include River Cottage, RHS, Somerset Rural Life Museum and the Soho House Group.
The natural landscape has always been Sarah’s inspiration. By working with natural materials, often harvesting locally grown willow and rush herself, not only does Sarah feel rooted within her landscape, but through weaving with them Sarah is continually connecting to, guided and sculpted by natures’ life force.
For 2024 - 5, alongside Sarah’s existing products that include baskets, willow seated furniture and lighting features, she is creating bespoke basketry pieces that forge her exciting new path of combining hazel and willow material whilst also showcasing newly learnt critically endangered basket making skills.
Exhibitions, Stockists, Training, Commissions, Teaching & Research
2024 – 2025 Exhibition Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining. Ose baskets being exhibited September ’24 – January ’25 at Ruthin Craft Centre, North Wales & April – June ’25 at the Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire.
2024 September Show Create Festival, Devon.
2024 June Show Craft Festival exhibitor, Devon.
2024 May Television Unwind with ITV1. Mindfulness programme.
2024 March Exhibit at Basketry Showcase 2024 hosted by The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers. London.
2023 October Key Speaker Basketmakers’ Association AGM, Staging an Exhibition talk. London.
2023 October Stockist Holly& Co online curated marketplace, founding Co.
2023 September Stockist MAKE Southwest gallery shop, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
2023 June Show Craft Festival exhibitor, Devon.
2022 - 23. Stockist Durslade Farm Shop at Hauser & Wirth, Bruton, Somerset.
2022 August – October Nourish Exhibition at Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, Surrey. 1 of 16 UK wide makers exhibiting willow work. Meet the Maker in October.
2021-22 November – January. Inaugural Featured Maker at MAKE Southwest (formerly Devon Guild of Craftsmen).
2021 Basketmakers Professional Development Programme with Cockpit Arts. Supported by the Basketmakers’ Association and funded by The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers.
2021 Featured in the book Slow Adventures: Unhurriedly Exploring Britain’s Wild Places by T. McIntosh, published by National Trust Books.
2020 Willow lighting commission for communal room at Marchmont Creative Spaces. (www.hugoburgefoundation.org)
2019 – 20 Self funded bi-monthly training in traditional English basketmaking with 4th generation, 79 year old Somerset commercial maker Eddie Barnard.
2019 Whole willow seating commission. Art & Crafts chairs, including Bedales chair model originally made by Edward Gardiner.
2019 Training bursary from the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers to attend square work workshop with Eddie Glew at the Basketmakers’ Association Spring School.
2019 – Present. Basketmaking workshops for RHS Rosemoor, Devon.
2019 – Present. Basketmaking workshops for the Somerset Rural Life Museum.
2018 Heritage Crafts / Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust finalist.
2018 – 2022. Basketmaking & Sculpture workshops for River Cottage HQ.
2017 CoLab Resilient Women Summit workshop.
2016 Competition winner of Excellence for Best Floral Display, Belgravia in Bloom for Linley of London, in collaboration with Tattie Rose Flowers and Coates English Willow. Sculpture Workshop for Linley of London.
2015 – 2017 Superact UK & European projects, Handmade Wellbeing Project, Netplants EU Project, Creative Times Guinness Partnership Project.
2013 Stakeholders Research project at the Museum of English Rural Life. Up-and-coming maker.
2013 Competition winner of the Light Fantastic Wearable Parade at the Basketry & Beyond Festival.
2010 – Present. Willow Day Workshops. (2022 – present basketmaking workshops held in Mid Devon.)
2010 – 2022 Willow basketmaking and sculpture workshops held at Coates English Willow on the Somerset Levels.
2002 – 2006 Creative Enterprise Manager, Centre for Creative Enterprise & Participation, Dartington College of Arts.
Sarah is a Heritage Crafts, Basketmakers’ Association and Basketmakers South West member. Sarah was selected by Find a Maker in June ’21 and attained full membership at MAKE Southwest in June ’23.
Memberships
When not making or teaching, Sarah loves to adventure in the wilds of the British Isles in a VW campervan. Until recently this was in her beloved T2 van ‘Nigella’. By choosing to entirely renovate the van’s interior herself, Sarah was able to design and create many of its features. From unique willow basket storage solutions to quirky rush material sun visors, this gave Sarah the opportunity to practice highly skilled techniques and showcase her craft form.
