Sue Kirk’s passion for willow began in 1997 after meeting a local basketmaker. Her husband began growing willow organically around the same time. The growing, harvesting, sorting, selecting and preparing of willow are inseparable elements to her craft and are practiced seasonally.

After studying a Fine Art degree at Chester College, Sue spent a year at Bretton Hall College training to be an art teacher, where the Henry Moore Sculpture Park and extensive arts and crafts library were a great inspiration to her.

Sue’s contemporary work is inspired by curvaceous weighty forms such as boulders, pebbles and rock formations shaped over time by the wind and sea. She builds feminine shapes which bulge, protrude, swell and arch. The willow bends perfectly to describe these curves, the strength of the rod holds the curves without them collapsing. Sue experiments with weaving techniques, using the willow to create highly textured surfaces which contain fluidity and density, especially seen within her herringbone weave pieces. The main inspiration for Sue’s work comes from the willow itself and her deep connection with the land it is grown on. The swollen bulbous edges and chunky multi-strand weave of her herringbone weave baskets are bold and full of painterly colour. These baskets contain the smaller rods which have failed to reach their full length due to drought conditions in the fields caused by Global Warming.

Sue teaches basketry at her workshop, The Old Brewery Studios, in King's Cliffe and host’s workshops here with professional makers from Europe and the UK. She also teaches her contemporary baskets at West Dean College in Chichester. Sue is a member of The Basketmakers' Association, The Heritage Craft Association and is a Yeoman member of The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers.