Craft can be a confusing word. When you use it there is a strong possibility that the other person is thinking about something quite different to you. One person imagines handmade one-off pieces while another thinks of stencilled furniture and stamps. And it doesn’t get any easier when you get beyond the word craft to a specific discipline such as glass or textiles, as again everyone will imagine something different.

On this website you will see a huge variety of images which create a visual introduction to the different disciplines within craft and collectively define Scottish craft.

This website showcases contemporary work by skilled makers from all over Scotland, some of whom are at the very beginning of their careers and others who are internationally recognised as being at the top of their profession.

Each maker works in a different way. The materials they use can include metal, fibre, wood, glass, resin and clay. Skilfully employing a range of techniques they create a variety of stunning objects which can be functional, decorative or both.

These are people who can look at a piece of metal and see a chessman, fuse some glass and produce a wall hanging or pick some willow and weave a basket. Craft is what happens when a person with imagination and skill has the opportunity to be creative.

• Ceramics
• Furniture and wood
• Glass
• Jewellery & Metalwork
• Lettering
• Musical instruments
• Paper
• Textiles
• Basketmaking

Of course, it is important to remember that craft exists in an international context so we are gathering a selection of opinions from people across the world to find out how they define craft.

Australia

‘The crafts are to do with the imaginative expression of ideas in making functional or decorative objects, through knowledge and skills associated with a direct involvement in materials and their technologies. While a crafts approach can apply to every form of creative endeavour and strong links exist with art, design and industry, 'the crafts' have become associated with work in certain media.’

Grace Cochrane
Senior curator, Australian decorative arts and design
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
www.phm.gov.au

Scotland

‘Craft is not defined by genre. Makers today may express themselves through a wide range of media. Whatever the medium, craft practice demands a unique combination of hand, mind and eye - the technical mastery of material, aesthetic sensibility and design skills. The best involves a fourth element too: passion.’ 

Elizabeth Goring (Dr)
Curator of Modern Jewellery
National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh
www.nms.ac.uk

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