JESSIE WATSON-BROWN

HIDE TANNER
Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor

One of just a handful of people in the UK to still use ancient techniques, Jessie tans her hides naturally using smoke, tree bark or animals’ brains, which give her skins a warm rustic hue.

She collects animals from road-kill, culled deer, and from local stalkers, then skins them, tans them and crafts the skins into soft leather bags, hats and pouches.

She also prepares red deer skins from Exmoor to be made into drums. “I do everything the way our ancestors did, and only use skins that would have otherwise been thrown away. Working this way helps me feel part of nature, and connected to one of the world’s oldest crafts,” she says. 

HIDE-TANNING DEMONSTRATION
During this one-hour session, Jessie will show you how she hides her skins. £30 per group

BOOK A WORKSHOP WITH JESSIE:
Phone: 07780 977058  
Email: jessiebwb@gmail.com
Website: nettleseed.co.uk