Welsh shoemaker wins UK craft honour
Wales-based shoemaker Ruth Emily Davey has been awarded the Balvenie Young Master of Craft 2011 award for her handmade leather footwear.
The 24-year-old makes shoes from a workshop in Aberarth, Ceredigion, and applied earlier this year to the first ever Balvenie Masters of Craft awards, a scheme aiming to promote handcrafting in the UK.
“Winning has been wonderful,” said Ms Davey. “Celebrations of craftsmanship in the UK don’t really happen for a start and the Balvenie award has also been good for publicity and confidence. It’s not easy to get yourself out there when you live in rural Wales and the award has generated quite a lot of orders, inquiries and collaborative projects.”
Ms Davey became a shoemaker by accident rather than design. “I wouldn’t stay I instantly wanted to be a shoemaker but I had a natural affinity to the task,” she said. Ms Davey trained under Welsh shoemaker Alan Raddon as an apprentice. Mr Raddon taught her how to look at patterns, cut and sew leather.
After a five year apprenticeship with Mr Raddon, Ms Davey went solo in 2010. She custom makes each pair to individual measurement, with customers either travelling to her for fittings or sending measurements in via her website.
“I work predominantly with leather,” said Ms Davey. “I love to work with the classic tans, brogues and patents, but have begun to incorporate a variety of fabrics into my shoes such as checks, tweeds, heritage tartans, embroidered silks and brocades.”
