Devon

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1326" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/DartmoorArtisansCover.jpg" alt="Artisans of Dartmoor by Suzy Bennett" class="wp-image-76303" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/DartmoorArtisansCover.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/DartmoorArtisansCover-603x800.jpg 603w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/DartmoorArtisansCover-754x1000.jpg 754w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/DartmoorArtisansCover-768x1018.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



A must-have for your coffee table, Devon&#8217;ers! The Telegraph travel writer <a href="http://www.suzybennett.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Suzy Bennett</a> is writing and crowdfunding an inspiring new book, due out this summer, on the amazing artisans and craftspeople of Dartmoor. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1286" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jordan-Harris25-7-24-266_RGB.jpg" alt="Credit Suzy Bennett" class="wp-image-76311" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jordan-Harris25-7-24-266_RGB.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jordan-Harris25-7-24-266_RGB-622x800.jpg 622w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jordan-Harris25-7-24-266_RGB-778x1000.jpg 778w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jordan-Harris25-7-24-266_RGB-768x988.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jordan Harris Dartmoor Greenwood / Credit Suzy Bennett</figcaption></figure>



Giving us a peek behind the workshop walls, she&#8217;s profiled and photographed sixteen men and women crafters at work. We&#8217;ve just had a sneak preview, and it looks like the kind of book you buy for a mate then can&#8217;t bear to give away. It&#8217;s a keeper.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1577" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Isla-Middleton-18-9-24-333_RGB.jpg" alt="Isla Middleton by Suzy Bennet " class="wp-image-76314" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Isla-Middleton-18-9-24-333_RGB.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Isla-Middleton-18-9-24-333_RGB-507x800.jpg 507w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Isla-Middleton-18-9-24-333_RGB-634x1000.jpg 634w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Isla-Middleton-18-9-24-333_RGB-768x1211.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Isla-Middleton-18-9-24-333_RGB-974x1536.jpg 974w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Isla Middleton / Credit Suzy Bennett</figcaption></figure>



You might know Suzy, who lives on Dartmoor, for her travel features on Devon and for founding <a href="http://www.dartmoor-artisan-trail.co.uk/">The Dartmoor Artisan Trail</a><a href="http://www.dartmoor-artisan-trail.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">,</a> an arts, craft and food network linking Dartmoor&#8217;s traditional craftspeople, artists and producers.



When we caught up with Suzy hotfooting it back from the printer she told she loves a great story but also she&#8217;s keen to champion these crafts so they don&#8217;t die out. She&#8217;s also more than a little scared of AI coming along to wipe it all out.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1313" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-Williamson-2-177_RGB.jpg" alt="John Williamson stave basket maker by Suzy Bennett " class="wp-image-76305" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-Williamson-2-177_RGB.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-Williamson-2-177_RGB-609x800.jpg 609w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-Williamson-2-177_RGB-762x1000.jpg 762w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-Williamson-2-177_RGB-768x1008.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">John Williamson / Credit Suzy Bennett</figcaption></figure>



Three of the artisan crafts featured in the new book, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dartmoor.artisans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Artisans of Dartmoor</a>, are on the Heritage Crafts&#8217; critically endangered red list, for example <a href="https://john-williamson-stavebaskets.square.site/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Williamson</a>. He&#8217;s a stave basket maker, who scoured old records to rediscover the skill so he could archive how to make this robust wooden trug for future generations.



At <a href="https://www.instagram.com/princetownpress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Princetown Press</a>, Emma and JP create cards and stationery on a traditional letterpress, printing with inks made from foraged local flora, such as hawthorn. It&#8217;s all hand powered and the only electricity they use is for the lights.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="974" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jessie22-7-24-90_RGB.jpg" alt="Oak and Smoke Tannery by Suzy Bennett " class="wp-image-76312" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jessie22-7-24-90_RGB.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jessie22-7-24-90_RGB-800x519.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jessie22-7-24-90_RGB-1000x649.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/Jessie22-7-24-90_RGB-768x499.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Oak and Smoke tannery / Credit Suzy Bennett</figcaption></figure>



Jessie of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rekindled.hearth/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rekindled Hearth</a> uses ancient tanning processes with only natural ingredients – locally harvested tree barks such as oak and willow, oils and smoke. You can join her for a hide tanning camp where you&#8217;ll learn to source, tan and sew your own deerskin hide (from roadkill and animals culled as part of reforestation projects).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1414" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-WIlliamson-229_RGB.jpg" alt="John Williamson stave basket making by Suzy Bennett" class="wp-image-76309" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-WIlliamson-229_RGB.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-WIlliamson-229_RGB-566x800.jpg 566w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-WIlliamson-229_RGB-707x1000.jpg 707w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/06/John-WIlliamson-229_RGB-768x1086.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Suzy Bennett</figcaption></figure>



So much more evocative and meaningful than the mass-produced, no? What&#8217;s more, says Suzy, these makers are paving the way for the next generation, proving that it&#8217;s possible to make a career that&#8217;s ethical, sustainable and, most importantly financially viable, with nothing but your hands and your imagination. And if that doesn&#8217;t sock it to AI, what does?!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="600" height="413" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/04/cary-arms-spa-2.jpg" alt="The Cary Arms Babbacombe " class="wp-image-55261" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Enjoy a massage at the glorious Cary Arms &amp; Spa overlooking Lyme Bay </figcaption></figure>



Plus, there&#8217;s something in it for you when you support Suzy in supporting the Dartmoor Artisans. To help raise funds for the new book, Suzy has collaborated with some brilliant Devon businesses to offer <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/artisans-of-dartmoor-book-by-suzy-bennett#/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">epic deals on artisan workshops, spa treatments, luxury Devon hotels</a>. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/12/arundell-2.jpeg" alt="The Arundell Arms Lifton Devon" class="wp-image-71953" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/12/arundell-2.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/12/arundell-2-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/12/arundell-2-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/12/arundell-2-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sweet dreams at The Arundell Inn at Lifton </figcaption></figure>



That includes meals out, stays and spa treatments at Muddy-approved places, such as The Millbrook Inn, Exeter&#8217;s Southernhay House, The Cary Arms &amp; Spa and The Arundell Inn at Lifton. The discounts are wild, but &#8211; quiiiiick! &#8211; you only have until Saturday 14 June to nab &#8217;em, so don&#8217;t miss out.



Buy <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/artisans-of-dartmoor-book-by-suzy-bennett#/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Artisans of Dartmoor</a> for £5 off, and get your mitts on those awesome deals <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/artisans-of-dartmoor-book-by-suzy-bennett#/">here</a>. And you can hear Suzy talking more about her new book at the Bovey Tracey <a style="font-style: italic;font-weight: bold" href="https://www.craftfestival.co.uk/Special-Features-BoveyTracey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Craft Festival </a>this Saturday 7 June 2025.

Muddy preview: The Artisans of Dartmoor by Suzy Bennett

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