Slow Ways is a project that was born through a curiosity; to see what could be learned when time is taken and attention is paid. We began with a walk, a three month adventure following Britain’s footpaths and bridleways, from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Across moorland, wetland, forest and dale; over hill and mountain, through storm and gale, we covered 1,300 miles from the foot to the head of this isle. Our aim was to document heritage crafts, to map a constellation of makers across the country, whose practices have an increasingly fragile future. We wanted to learn why keeping these skills alive has value beyond the constant push for ‘progress’; why using our hands to make, anchors us in the muscle and memory of being human.

Our project was in support of two phenomenal charities: QEST (The Queen Elisabeth Trust) and Heritage Craft. The former, providing funding and training opportunities for makers looking to develop their skills, the latter to support critically endangered crafts from going extinct.