I am a basket maker, weaver and sometimes even a knitter of natural materials. My practice weaves a response to my connections with the surroundings. The farm and Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve provide the inspiration.

West Moss-side Farm is the home for The West Moss-side Art Collective: a group of artists and makers who each year participate in Open Studios events: Forth Valley Art Beat and since 2024, Open Studios Stirlingshire.

Over the years we have hosted a variety of workshops in the Hayloft Studio. In December 2024 the original pitch pine floor had to be replaced, as it had finally succumbed to the wood-worm. I am joined by Max Johnson and together we are the hub for the Glasgow and West Central Regional Group of the Scottish Basket Makers’ Circle.

After taking some time off from our workshop delivery, we are now excited to again resume a programme of arts and crafts events.

Events

Workshops

All workshops 10am – 4.30pm. The cost is £95 per day plus materials.

Generous teas, coffee and home baking. Bring lunch potluck to share.

To book, contact: kate@westmossside.com or phone: 07870 156502. Payment is by bank transfer.

Previous workshops

Like all things at West Moss-side the root is the land itself. I began basket making in 1999, when implementing a rewilding and conservation plan for the farm. Willow was planted on the banks of the Goodie Water to provide vegetation for wildlife and to stabilise the (previously) engineered banks. Since then I have planted willow everywhere!

Now these willows are much sought after by beavers. 

You will find willow fedges, willow domes, willow sculptures and even a willow labyrinth for contemplation or just fun. I have also experimented with using Star Moss (Politricum commune) which was traditionally used for making rope but I have knitted and woven with it to make baskets and wall hangings. I also use field rush, cotton grass and birch in my work. In the past few years I have been experimenting with willow bark weaving, inspired by Joan Carrigan a basket maker from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia who uses cedar bark and respectfully follows the patterns of the NW Pacific native people’s work.    

The West Moss-side Art Collective
The West Moss-side Collective is an informal and changing group of artists and makers. Some of their work is on permanent display but each year we host an exhibition and open the doors. The next is Open Studios Stirlingshire is 7–15 June 2025.

Introducing the artists of the Collective:
Kate Sankey, basketry and woven natural materials – mostly useful. 

Graham Tristram – www.studiotristram.com. Graham’s paintings begin in the landscape and are inspired by light, atmosphere and the abstract patterns of nature. He uses oil pastels and acrylic to create. 

Darren Rees – www.darrenrees.com. Darren is an international wildlife artist who paints in acrylics and oils, his paintings capture the essence of the wildlife of wild places, both near and far. 

Jill Sives – www.jillsives.com. Jill is a printmaker, she uses a variety of media including flower petal pigments, pencil, acrylic, and cyanotypes. 

Michael Prince – www.michaelprincephotography.co.uk. Michael is a landscape photographer and film maker. His black and white art photography conjures up the moods of the landscape. 

Jessica Langford is both an animator and botanical illustrator. Using a sand box she creates magical short films. 

Gillie Welstead is a silversmith who crafts beautiful work inspired by the natural world.

It is with sadness that we have to report that Charmian Pollok, one of the founder members of The Collective has passed away.  She worked with hand made paper and found objects. She created exquisite and magical 3D sculptures from old and long lost pieces of iron, wood or bone. West Moss-side is very grateful that her pieces have been bequeathed to West Moss-side and so will remain here as a lasting reminder of Charmian and her work.

New to West Moss-side

Flanders Moss Dark Room
Here Michael Prince develops and prints his black and white photographs. He is running Medium and Large format photography workshops as well as a chance to experience pin hole cameras and cyanotype printing. Contact Michael for details of workshops. We will be participating in the Stirling Photography Festival in September.

Visit the Flanders Moss Dark Room website.

Max Johnson Basketry
Kate has teamed up with Max to run workshops and host the local Regional Group of the Scottish Basket Makers’ Circle. New varieties of basketry willow have been planted so we look forward to using more and more of our own willow in our work.

Visit the Max Johnson Basketry website.