ARTISAN
Weaving together Cambridgeshire’s past, present and future, Ely basketmaker Nadine Anderson welcomes us into her studio Words and Images CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS CUSTODIAN of CRAFT I t’s warm on the day I visit Nadine Anderson, but her studio is cool and bright. Built across the back of her home, one side of the long space has glass doors leading to a lush, slate-covered courtyard garden with glimpses of the sprawling Fenland surrounding her village. The other three walls of the studio
It takes a little while for this display to sink in. Of course, the collection is immediately impressive because of its sheer scale and the beauty of the craftwork. But when you listen to Nadine talk about her processes, and the hundreds of years – thousands, in some cases – of tradition woven into the creation of each piece, you realise that each one of these handmade items is a record of time, of days spent quietly coaxing plants into position or thinking deeply about the task ahead. Meeting the maker Nadine herself appears as neat as her studio, dressed in a loose striped shirt and ceramic brooch echoing the lines of her creations. It’s almost as if she has woven herself an outfit for the day – and given her extraordinary skill set, I wouldn’t put this past her. As with the baskets Nadine creates, every detail has been carefully considered; gently straightened up ahead of my visit and a workshop that’s scheduled for the following day. It was a similar session that started Nadine on this journey, nearly 30 years ago. “I saw somebody demonstrating basketmaking at Denny Abbey. They also ran workshops, so I thought I’d go and spend a weekend with them – and I just loved it,” she explains over tea served in ceramic mugs made by another local maker, while her perfect miniature dachshund Maisie yawns and settles down for a nap. “I wouldn’t say what I made was round – strawberry-shaped, actually – but I bought some willow, some books and tried to repeat what I learned on that weekend, and it became my hobby.” Many people would just enjoy the workshop and then perhaps give it a try on a rainy day, but something clicked for Nadine. She replicated the basket she’d seen demonstrated, and not just once: over and over again until she was satisfied. “Basketry is an exercise in patience. I’ve taught people who can’t wait to get onto the next task, but I always think: be okay with the activity and what you’re doing right now, and then you’ll get there. Maybe not today, maybe not next year, maybe in a couple of years. It’s hard graft.
make its purpose clear. Towering bundles of willow and rush line each end of the space, within easy reach of workshop attendees; while the wall closest to Nadine’s home, covered with shelves that run the entire length of the studio, is bustling with woven creations of all shapes, sizes, colours and textures.
LEARN BY HEART Although many different basket-weaving designs exist, there are some fundamental principles each weaver learns
32 AUGUST 2026 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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