KITCHEN ON THE EDGE 2024 – CONSERVATION, CRAFT, ART & NATURE

We look forward to welcoming some wonderful speakers, artisans and makers for next year’s Kitchen On The Edge.

BILL AMBERG 21-25 March

Over the last 30 years, Bill’s work in architecture and interiors has grown in parallel with his iconic bag designs, of which the ‘Rocket Bag’ is in the permanent collection of London’s V&A and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Combining heritage techniques with cutting-edge technology, Bill Amberg Studio stands as the UK’s foremost authority on leather’s architectural and sculptural applications, demonstrated in recent projects for Harrods, The Royal Academy of Arts and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey.

This will be an adventure not to miss as Bill is joined by Firedoor chef Lennox Hastie and award-winning conservationist Bron Taylor. When the weather gods allow, we’ll be fishing for *Skrei*, hiking and exploring. When we withdraw inside by the fire, we’ll be crafting with Bill, learning about conservation and of course cooking and eating with Lennox Hastie and Valentine Warner.

BRON TAYLOR 21-25 March

Bron Taylor is Professor of Religion and Environmental Ethics at the University of Florida.

An interdisciplinary environmental studies scholar, he explores through the lenses of the sciences and humanities the complex relationships and influences among worldviews, values, ideologies, and socioecological systems. In 2017 he was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement award by the International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture.

We look forward to exploring the relationship between human and nature with Bron here in our wild and ancient landscape.

Lee JOHN PHILLIPS 2-6 May & 9-13 May

In May, our friend, spoon carver and illustrator Lee John Phillips will return to Holmen for a series of captivating wood carving workshops.

Lee John Phillips is a freelance illustrator, spoon carver, educator and sketchbook keeper from West Wales. When he isn’t fulfilling client work or carving spoons, he is drawing his way through his late grandfather’s toolshed. He’s been cataloguing the contents since 2014 and has drawn over 8,500 items to date. Lee sees it as his life’s work and estimates a total inventory of around 100,000.

The Shed Project has been shortlisted for the John Ruskin Prize, The Jerwood Drawing Prize and won the Zealous Storytelling Prize for illustration.

Completing the adventure will be our Norwegian chef hero Heidi Bjerkan, ‘Godfather’ of Spanish cooking José Pizarro and the brilliant artisan Jemma Lewis. Join us for a RIB trip and picnic, foraging, hiking, cooking demos and the magic of the Lofoten in early summer.

JEMMA LEWIS 2-6 May & 9-13 May

Jemma Lewis will be joining us for a series of mesmerising paper marbling workshops.

Jemma practices artisanal paper marbling, the method of aqueous surface design which produces patterns similar to smooth marble.

Together with her husband, she runs Jemma Lewis Marbling & Design from their small log cabin studio in Wiltshire. Papers are marbled in the traditional way, as they have been done for hundreds of years, by floating watercolour paints onto a viscous jelly-like surface made up of an Irish seaweed called Carrageenan. 

Marbling is an absorbing craft that not only allows the maker to get lost in the process but also produces relatively instant results. The marbled papers can have many uses from being framed, used within bookbinding, as drawer liners or turned into decorative lampshades. 

Jemma ships her papers worldwide and has collaborated with many well known brands such as Waitrose and Jo Malone and publishers such as Folio Society.

ALEX POLE 26-30 September & 3-7 October

In September, Alex Pole will return to our forge for captivating metal work sessions.

Alex has a lifelong passion for metal work.

He trained originally as a jewellery maker, but has been working now as a blacksmith for 25 years. Using both traditional and modern techniques, and local or recycled materials wherever possible, Alex makes bespoke pieces for private clients or designers, as well as developing his own range, Forge Kitchenware. He also runs regular blacksmithing courses from The Forge in Somerset.

It is both exhilarating and calming to join Alex at work for a few hours and learn a little of his trade from him.

Alex is joined by highly acclaimed chefs Jeremy Lee, Henry Harris and talented maker Mark Lord, who will be teaching guests the art of printmaking. Given that Lofoten is governed by the weather it might be unwise to say this line-up will cook up a storm but with the autumn smells beckoning, the trees turning in colour, the grouse and hares soon to turn white, they will no doubt create a seasonal carousel of *magi*.

MARK LORD 26-30 September & 3-7 October

Mark Lord aka Lino Lord, is a professional photographer whose 22-year career behind the camera led to a passion for capturing the essence of the natural world, his heritage growing up on the Cornish coast and the people that look after their small corner of the world. In 2019 he set up a studio space at home & started carving a few lino blocks. After the COVID pandemic temporarily put a hold on his photography career he was able to spend more time in his print studio rather than behind a camera.

Lino Lord prints lean into the rich history of craft from Cornwall, embracing timeless techniques to capture fascinating natural and iconic imagery. From the naive folk art of rural England to the St Ives school of artists, retro-chic contemporary objects, and simple Scandinavian design, Lino Lord’s work
embodies a natural, distinctive style.

Mark has since started spreading his love of lino printing by teaching others how to develop their skills & get creative. Mark enjoys sharing the skills he has developed over the last 5 years with his students, from drafting the design, carving the lino & printing the final artwork. Mark finds that inspiring others to start their journey with printmaking is particularly a rewarding part of his own printmaking journey.

AUDUN RASMUSSEN

Audun is our local mountain guide and is with us for all Kitchen On The Edge events. 

Before you have even said hello to Audun, you will be greeted with a mischievous smile and twinkling eyes. He is the one who will guide you safely and expertly through this wild terrain we call home. The man’s mind is an encyclopedic field guide.