Artist statement
ConceptsSteve Fuller and Simone Siegan are happy to facilitate willow projects great and small, for schools, parks, local authorities, landscaping, gardens and museums. Living willow sculpture is a very popular garden art form and is sustainable. Domes, tunnels, arbours and screening are a few examples of what can be created using live willow 'rods'. Steve Fuller has been making baskets and working with willow for over 25 years. Simone has been willow working for seven years. We specialise in working with individuals, community, conservation/environmental groups and schools to create willow structures that enhance parks, school grounds and gardens.
We also work to commission and can create unique and durable living willow structures for adventure play, shelter or habitat. We teach workshops throughout the UK and have worked with organisations such as The Lake District National Park Authority, The National Trust, Gardening Which, Groundwork Trust, BTCV, Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Surestart, Greenstart and Horticultural Colleges. We are happy to travel anywhere in the UK and run willow workshops and corporate training events.
Influences
Environment/Ecology, Ancient cultures/Myths, History; own cultural identity (English); own gender (Male)
Career path
BA Hons Heritage Management
Member of Learning Through Landscapes.
We specialise in working with individuals, community groups and schools to create willow structures that enhance parks and gardens. We also work to commission and can create unique structures for play, shelter and habitat. We teach courses throughout the UK and run a wide range of willow courses for children at countryside locations for organisations such as the Lake District National Park Authority, the National Trust, the Great North Forest, Groundwork Trust and BTCV.
Recent Willow Commissions:
Holker on Display, Garden with Kim Wilde
Living Shade Project, Sefton Council NHS/HAZ
Educational Display Tatton Park, RHS Garden Festival
'Talkin Tarn Bird Hide, East Cumbria Countryside Project
Partners in Shade, St Helen's Health Partnership
In the Green Field Biodiversity Special, Environment Agency & National Trust
Willow Street Art With Urban Canvas, Liverpool
'Eden Arts, Foot & Mouth Residency', Stainton School, Penrith
Living Willow Sculptrues, BBC Charlie Dimmock's Garden Army
Chelsea Flower show 2001:
The Diversity of the Genus Salix' for Chapel Manor College (Gold Medal)
Living Willow Arch, for 'Gardening Which' (Silver Gilt Medal)
East meets West, for S & R Landscapes (Bronze Medal) Tatton Park 2001
Willow Seat, Gresgarth Hall, Caton, Lancashire
Bursary to travel to Hungary & work with Hungarian Gypsy basketmakers, EU funded by 'Development Of Heritage Training Provision In Europe' EU
Solo exhibitions
- 1994 Hexham Arts Centre, Workshop
- 1994 Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, Workshop
- 1994 Tullie House Museum, Carlisle
- 1994 Norwood Environmental Centre, Gateshead
- 1994 Tweedale Museum Peebles, Performance
- 1994 Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association, Willow Sculpture, Canonbie
- 1994 Tree Dressing, William Howard Centre, Brampton
- 1993 Bede Museum, Jarrow Demonstration
- 1993 Norwood Environmental Centre, Gateshead
- 1992 Durham Dales Centre, Stanhope, Workshop
Group exhibitions
- 2004 Willow Exhibition, Tatton Park RHS Show, Tatton Park
- 1994 Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
- 1994 Working Woodlands Weekend, Gateshead
- 1993 Woodland Event, East Cumbria Countryside Project
- 1990 Gossipgate Gallery, Carlisle
- 1989 Eden Craft Gallery, Penrith
- 1989 Fairly Great Craftsmen, Carlisle
- 1987 Weekend in the Woods, Keswick
- 1987 British Basketmakers, Bluecoats, Liverpool
- 1986 10 British Basketmakers, Primavera
Workshops
- 2005 Willow Basket and Garden Structures, woodland skills & craft courses - Cumbria Woodlands, Preston Patrick, Cumbria
Residencies
- 2005 Whitehaven Britain in Bloom - Willow Sculptures, Trinity Gardens and various sites around Whitehaven, Whitehaven, Cumbria
Public commissions
- 2006 Giant Willow Seagulls, Southport In Bloom, Roundabout on Marine Drive, Southport
- 2005 Dolphins - 3 life-size willow dolphins, Distington Cumbria In Bloom, Distington, Whitehaven, Cumbria
Projects
- 2006 Willow Animal Zoo, Churchyard, Dalton-in-Furness (more info)
- 2005 Cumbrian Fellside Garden, Chelsea Flower Show, London (more info)
- 2005 Living Willow Play Structures, Milton Keynes Prepatory School, Milton Keynes
- 2005 LIving Willow Play Structures, Houndslow Early Years - various sites in area, Houndslow, London
- 2005 Cumbrian Fellside Garden - willow work for Kim Wilde's plot, Chelsea Flower Show - Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea, London
- 2005 Woven willow planting beds for community garden, The Calthorpe Community Garden, Calthorpe, Kings Cross, London
Web links - gallery/work/projects
Personal website
