Lunchtime Lecture: Sky Arts Master Crafters – Wood Carving with Clunie Fretton

This Craft Week, delve into the woodcarving world with Sky Arts’ Master Crafters, and discover the history and importance of this heritage craft with award winning woodcarver Clunie Fretton, in conversation with V&A Curatorial Fellow in Furniture History Dr Jenny Saunt. Clunie and Jenny will discuss the history of the craft, Clunie’s career and work, her upcoming appearance in Bill Bailey’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation, and her collaboration with the V&A. This event will then be followed by an exclusive woodcarving demo with Clunie in the V&A's Learning Centre - please note that spaces at the demonstration will be limited on the day. You can find out more about the demonstration by scrolling down and following the link at the bottom of this webpage.

Celebrating traditional crafts, Bill Bailey’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation will spotlight the stellar work of expert crafts professionals across Britain and follow junior crafters as they refine their skills. Filmed across the UK, this series will explore three traditional heritage crafts in all their glory: wood carving, stained glass and silversmithing. The show will also highlight the work of The Prince’s Foundation in supporting new generations of crafters and keeping traditional building skills alive as a key part of our national and international heritage.

Clunie Fretton is a classically trained sculptor, carver & gilder, who graduated from City & Guilds of London Art School in 2015 with a Distinction in Ornamental Woodcarving & Gilding. She served as the Carving Fellow for the year 2015-2016 before setting up her current practice with partner Felix Handley. She has been awarded the Journeyman and Master Carver Certificates under the Master Certificate scheme to recognise excellence in craftsmanship, the Taylor Pearce Drawing Prize for Carving and Conservation, the Anthony and Margaret Wood Marketing Bursary of the Society of Heraldic Arts, and the Newby Trust Award at Cockpit Arts. Clunie is a member of the Master Carvers’ Association.

Dr Jenny Saunt is the Oliver Ford Curatorial Research Fellow at the V&A. She works in the Furniture and Woodwork section of the Performance, Furniture, Textiles and Fashion Department and specializes in furniture and interiors of the long eighteenth century. Jenny came originally from a design and practice background, working first as a theatre designer, then in research and conservation of historic interiors. She has published and lectured widely on her subjects of production and design of woodcarving and decorative plasterwork in England, 1660 to 1760. Jenny sits on the council of the Furniture History Society, is a trustee for the Strawberry Hill Collections Trust and convenes the annual New Insights Conference at the Antiquaries Society, London, which focuses on the architecture and interiors of the early modern period in Great Britain.

To see our full Summer 2023 Lunchtime Lecture Programme, click 'Download Programme' on the right of this screen.