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Collect 2023

Maker

Iseabal Hendry

Story
Q & A
Works
Craft Directory Profile

Location:

Highlands (including Inverness and Skye)

Disciplines:

Leather Working, Textiles / Fibre

Materials:

Leather, Plant fibres, Textiles, Wood

Born and raised in the Highlands of Scotland, Iseabal Hendry is inspired by the traditional craft skills that she grew up with, from basket-weaving and roof-thatching to clinker boatbuilding. As with these ways of making, Iseabal takes individual segments of a material and combines them by hand to create work that is both beautiful and functional. Her creative practice is materially-led, inspired by zero waste and her family heritage in leatherwork. Working with vegetable tanned leather, which changes over time dependent on how it’s handled. Iseabal finds beauty in this ever-changing quality which she finds mirrors her landscape, continually transforming with the shifting light. Iseabal has a number of stockists throughout the UK including the Hauser & Wirth owned luxury art-hotel, The Fife Arms. 

In conversation

1. Tell us about your practice?

Traditional crafts that I grew up with in the Scottish Highlands including basketry, thatching and clinker boatbuilding, are the inspirations and starting points for my practice.

Prior to going to art-school I studied traditional clinker boatbuilding for a year when I was 18. This experience cemented my love for making, and recently I have developed a new body of work in which I have combined the woodwork skills I learnt during boatbuilding, with my signature woven leatherwork.

Through my practice I hope to weave together environmental values, a modern aesthetic based on time-honoured techniques and materials, with the Highland landscape that continually inspires me to make.

2. Tell us about your materials and techniques?

My practice originated from a desire for zero-waste. It was during my second year studying Embroidery at the Glasgow School of Art that I set myself a brief during a leather-project to use all the remnants left over from the pattern cutting process. By weaving very thin strips of leather with cotton, I can make use of the entire hide with almost no wastage.

The inspirations behind my work, though often abstract, are close to my heart. Even my material choice is inspired by my dad, who worked within the leather industry when he was my age, and instilled in me an appreciation and respect for the art of vegetable-tanned leather. As such my whole practice, from my materials to my inspirations to the development of my practice, feels incredibly personal and unique to me.

3. What inspired the work you are presenting at Collect 2023?

For Collect I wanted to develop an entirely new body of work that pushed my practice. I challenged myself to work on an ambitious scale, and ended up working with new materials, combined with my signature handwoven leatherwork.

Going back to my roots and looking at the traditional crafts I grew up with, I went back to the boatbuilding workshop where I studied a decade ago. I sourced local Scottish Oak which I steam-bent to create sculptural forms inspired by the movement created when waulking cloth. Alongside months of woodwork to create these curved shapes, I worked on my hand-woven leather panels, which in some cases were over 2 metres in length. With these curved shapes I hand stitched my woven panels to create bold, unique works which speak of traditional skills with a contemporary aesthetic.

4. Tell us about a special detail from this new body of work?

This is an entirely new body of work for me which challenged and pushed my practice. This collection marks a new direction in my practice, and has shown me the breadth of possibility within my work, personally and creatively. My favourite element of this collection is the confidence that I have gained from it as a maker, designer and on a very fundamental level, as a person too.

5. What do you hope the viewer will take away from this work?

I hope people engaging with my work will feel the joy and love that has gone into each one, from the colours I’ve chosen to the softness of the curves I’ve created. I hope that people will enjoy the character and uniqueness of each piece when they take time to get to know them. With each curve, bend, knot and stitch, I hope the viewer will find beauty and softness alongside the solidity and strength of each piece. The hours of craftsmanship that has gone into each piece and the nature of the materials and methods I’ve worked with mean that each piece is inimitable – and I hope that individuality comes through.

6. Last thoughts on your collection?

This body of work has taken over four months, working up to 70 hours some weeks. It’s taken a community to create these works, and I am eternally grateful for the advice, wisdom and support of my community here in Wester Ross.

Calum Douglas and Emmi Keane

Iseabal Hendry

Collection in Tortora and Cobalto

A capsule collection of handwoven vegetable tanned leather accessories. A cele..

2020, Max size -18.5x14.5x6.5cm, Veg Tan Leather, Cotton

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas and Emmi Keane

Iseabal Hendry

The Barrel Bag in Cobalto Blue and Tortora Taupe

A capsule collection of handwoven vegetable tanned leather accessories. A cele..

2020, 14.5 (19 inc suede) x 10.5cm, Veg Tan Leather, Cotton

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas and Emmi Keane

Iseabal Hendry

Circular in Verde

A capsule collection of handwoven vegetable tanned leather accessories. A cele..

2020, 17 x 16.5 x 8.5cm, Veg Tan Leather, Cotton

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas and Emmi Keane

Iseabal Hendry

The Barrel Bag in Verde and Lattuga

A capsule collection of handwoven vegetable tanned leather accessories. A cele..

2020, 14.5 (19 with suede upper)x 6.5cm, Veg-Tan Leather,Cotton

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas and Emmi Keane

Iseabal Hendry

Half Moon in Verde

A capsule collection of handwoven vegetable tanned leather accessories. A cele..

2020, 18.5 x 14.5 x 6.5cm, Veg Tan Leather, Cotton

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The (almost) Circular in Tablet

The (almost) Circular bag. This warm, soft shade is Tablet. A buttery, decaden..

16 x 17 x 9cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 16 x 17 x 9cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The (almost) Circular in Tenement Green

The (almost) Circular Bag. Tenement Green is a cool, deep teal shade inspired ..

16 x 17 x 9cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 16 x 17 x 9cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The Half Moon in Tablet

The Half Moon Crossbody. A classic design, with a beautiful curve. Each bag ha..

14.5 x 19 x 7.5cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 14.5 x 19 x 7.5cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The Swing Case in Valtos Pink

The Swing Case. A wee bag designed just for the essentials - because true happ..

16.5 x 9cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 16.5 x 9cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The Barrel Bag in Valtos and Tablet

The Barrel Bag. Cylindrical in shape with a soft Italian suede pouch, perfectl..

14.5 x 10.5cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 14.5 x 10.5cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The Barrel Bag in Tenement Green and Tablet

The Barrel Bag. Cylindrical in shape with a soft Italian suede pouch, perfectl..

14.5 x 10.5cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 14.5 x 10.5cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The Swing Case in Apple Green

The Swing Case. A wee bag designed just for the essentials - because true happ..

16.5 x 9cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 16.5 x 9cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The Swing Case in Saltire

The Swing Case. A wee bag designed just for the essentials - because true happ..

16.5 x 9cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 16.5 x 9cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The Barrel Bag in Saltire and Tablet

The Barrel Bag. Cylindrical in shape with a soft Italian suede pouch, perfectl..

14.5 x 10.5cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 14.5 x 10.5cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The Swing Case in Tablet

The Swing Case. A wee bag designed just for the essentials - because true happ..

16.5 x 9cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 16.5 x 9cm

Enquire | Buy

Cal Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

The Swing Case in Tenement Green

The Swing Case. A wee bag designed just for the essentials - because true h..

16.5 x 9cm

2021, Leather and Cotton, 16.5 x 9cm

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

Crudha

Crudha - Scottish Gaelic, Noun: 1. Horseshoe

65 × 65 × 22 cm

2023. Scottish Oak, Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather and Nylon. 65 × 65 × 22 cm

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

Crudha - close up

Crudha - Scottish Gaelic, Noun: 1. Horseshoe

65 × 65 × 22 cm

2023. Scottish Oak, Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather and Nylon. 65 × 65 × 22 cm

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

Làn

Làn - Scottish Gaelic, Adjective, 1. Full, fullness 2. Complete 3. Perfect 4...

55 x 48 x 35cm

2023. Scottish Oak, Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather, Vintage Natural-Fibres hand-repaired with Cotton. 55 × 48 × 35 cm

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

Làn - interior

Làn - Scottish Gaelic, Adjective, 1. Full, fullness 2. Complete 3. Perfect 4...

55 × 48 × 35 cm

2023. Scottish Oak, Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather, Vintage Natural-Fibres hand-repaired with Cotton. 55 × 48 × 35 cm

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

Cruinnich

Cruinnich - Scottish Gaelic, Verb: 1. Collect 2. Gather 3. Make Round 4. Draw ..

46 x 45 x 32cm

2023. Scottish Oak, Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather and Nylon. 46 × 45 × 32 cm

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

Cruinnich - close up

Cruinnich - Scottish Gaelic, Verb: 1. Collect 2. Gather 3. Make Round 4. Draw ..

46 x 45 x 32cm

2023. Scottish Oak, Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather and Nylon. 46 × 45 × 32 cm

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

Lan

Lan - Scottish Gaelic, Verb: 1. Kindle 2. Light 3. Ignite 4. Flame

40 × 32 × 12 cm

2023. Scottish Oak, Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather and Nylon. 40 × 32 × 12 cm

Enquire | Buy

Calum Douglas

Iseabal Hendry

Lan - close up

Lan - Scottish Gaelic, Verb: 1. Kindle 2. Light 3. Ignite 4. Flame

40 × 32 × 12 cm

2023. Scottish Oak, Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather and Nylon. 40 × 32 × 12 cm

Enquire | Buy

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Collect 2023 Exhibition

Visit Somerset House Get in touch

Next Maker

Kate Owens

Craft Scotland is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland no. SC 270245

A registered Scottish Charity no. SC039491

Collect 2023

Maker

Iseabal Hendry

Location:

Highlands (including Inverness and Skye)

Disciplines:

Leather Working, Textiles / Fibre

Materials:

Leather, Plant fibres, Textiles, Wood

In conversation

Work

Enquiry Form

Collect 2023 Exhibition

Next Maker

Kate Owens

Get in touch

Sign up to the Craft Scotland newsletter

Connect with us

Collect 2023

Maker

Iseabal Hendry

Location:

Highlands (including Inverness and Skye)

Disciplines:

Leather Working, Textiles / Fibre

Materials:

Leather, Plant fibres, Textiles, Wood

Work by: Iseabal Hendry

Photo by: Iseabal Hendry

Work by: Iseabal Hendry

Photo by: Iseabal Hendry

Work by: Iseabal Hendry

Photo by: Iseabal Hendry

Work by: Iseabal Hendry

Photo by: Iseabal Hendry

Work by: Iseabal Hendry

Photo by: Iseabal Hendry

Iseabal Hendry

In conversation

Work

Iseabal Hendry

Materials:

Dimensions:

Iseabal Hendry

Enquiry Form

Collect 2023 Exhibition

Next Maker

Kate Owens

Get in touch

Sign up to the Craft Scotland newsletter

Connect with us