Guildhall 2025, much to delight

This year’s Suffolk Craft Society Winter Exhibition at the Guildhall in Bury St Edmunds is a kaleidoscope of rich and exquisite craftsmanship, celebrating artistry, skill, and tradition in many forms. From finely bound books to beautifully crafted leatherwork and handwoven baskets, each maker brings their own story and mastery to this vibrant showcase. 

 

Paul Garcia, master bookbinder, creates traditionally sewn books finished with silk endbands, decorated edges, and intricate gold and blind tooling. His elegant leather bindings combine classical restraint with individuality and precision. Fellow printmaker and bookbinder Mavina Baker, working from her Essex coast studio, produces reflective, hand-printed works featuring recurring motifs of birds and boats — symbols of transience, memory, and quiet human experience. 

 

Sylvie and James Fawcett, based in Thornham Magna, handcraft violins, violas, cellos, and double basses in both modern and historical forms, using traditional tools and their own varnishes. Their instruments, valued by musicians worldwide, are admired for their tonal warmth and authenticity. 

 

Basketmaker and new member, Lin Carter blends traditional and contemporary techniques to create rush hats, vessels, and decorative forms using willow she grows herself and rush gathered from Suffolk rivers. Her work celebrates heritage craftsmanship and the joy of making. 

 

Among the skilled leatherworkers, Mark Papworth produces elegant, hand-stitched goods using historic techniques and durable materials, while also restoring and teaching from his Suffolk workshop. Sarah Woodcock crafts refined leather pieces that unite beauty and practicality, designed to last a lifetime. Drawing on her background as a National Trust curator and a family tradition of making, her work embodies quality, care, and longevity. 

 

Together, these makers fill the Guildhall with exceptional skill and timeless design — a celebration of craftsmanship that continues to inspire and endure.