Dr. Samantha Dennis has had a fascinating life. An esteemed archaeologist by profession, she was posted to St. Kilda in the early 2000s, and has subsequently made her life on Shetland where she continues to practice. Fate could not have placed a more fitting person in the path of Jimmy Work, the last semi-professional basket maker on Shetland, using only Shetland oats. Sam learned the particular techniques of Shetland coiled straw basket-making directly from Jimmy, who perfected the art of coiled baskets for domestic use from 1958, continuing to work until his death in 2014. Recognising the precariousness of this particular technique, the Heritage Crafts Association listed Coiled Straw Basket-Making on its critically endangered red list, and awarded Sam with a grant (alongside Eve Eunson) to boost knowledge and practise of the oat straw economy. Preservation and the passing on of traditional skills is only part of Sam’s mission; we find her experimental work incorporating sea plastic from nearby beaches in her baskets compelling and poetic in their own ways too.

What role does craft play in your daily life?

Handling a crafted object is like feeling sand between my toes or digging my fingers into the soil – its earthy, wholesome, and enriching. It is therapeutic and has life affirming qualities of being connected to natural, living and breathing materials. In a world that is moving so fast and filled with fleeting commodities, touching a hand-crafted basket creates an anchor and roots me in the present and in the past. It slows down time and allows me to appreciate traditional skills, creative design and innovation. Its therapy through touching, manipulating, and working with materials.

Craft forms a tangible connection to our past, our traditions.

What does Scottishness mean to you?

A wild rugged landscape. A life rooted and shaped by the landscape. It instils resilience and hardiness. It’s the joy of the fleeting ever-changing moments.