About

Born and raised in the Scottish Highlands, Iseabal Hendry is inspired by the traditional crafts she saw growing up, from basket-weaving and clinker-boatbuilding to roof-thatching. Working with natural materials, such as vegetable-tanned leather, cotton, locally sourced wood and foraged plants, Iseabal’s work reflects and embodies a strong sense of place. 

Iseabal’s creative practice is materially-led and driven by a desire for zero waste. By weaving very thin strips of vegetable-tanned leather with cotton, she can make use of the entire hide with almost no wastage. Her materials are all sourced within Europe, and some even closer to home in Scotland, working with and supporting family-run tanneries, weavers and independent makers. 

After studying Traditional Clinker Boatbuilding in Plockton and Embroidery at the Glasgow School of Art, Iseabal launched her first collection of handwoven accessories in 2020. Her works are sold at Hauser & Wirth owned luxury hotel, The Fife Arms, and in Scotland's home for contemporary craft, BARD.

Iseabal’s work weaves together environmental values, a modern aesthetic based on time-honoured techniques and materials, with the landscape that continually inspires her to make.

Milestones

2024

• QEST Scholarship, Emerging Makers Award, selected as the QEST Leathersellers' Company Scholar

• No.10 Downing Street, one of ten makers selected to demonstrate and showcase work at No.10’s celebration of London Craft Weeks 10th anniversary

• London Craft Week x The Fife Arms, Mayfair, ‘Craft in Context: How Landscape and Identity Inspire Scottish Craft’ - Speaker and Panelist

2023

• Atlas Arts x Tobar an Dualchais - Artist in Residence

• The Festival of Fashion at The Fife Arms, ‘Crafting a Sustainable Future in Fashion’ - Speaker and Panelist

• Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool - Emerging Makers Exhibition

• XpoNorth Conference, ‘How Creativity Can Power Rural Economies’, Fort William - Speaker and Panelist

• Collect 2023 - selected to exhibit as part of the Craft Scotland showcase

2022

• Inches Carr Bursary Award - Craft Scotland

• VACMA Award - Highland

• ‘Top 10 Makers to Watch’ - Crafts Council

2021

• Glasgow School of Art ‘Reaching Audiences’ conference, Speaker and Panelist

• Modern Crafter Award Nominee, Holly & Co

• Crafting Business - selected for the inaugural 5 month mentoring programme with Crafts Council x Crafting Europe

• The Art of Leather, featured in the Leather UK publication

2020

• RBS, Back Her Business, award

• Creative Scotland x Crowdfunder, one of 3finalists to secure full match funding after running a public fundraising campaign

2019

• Craft Scotland, Next Generation, selected to take part in the inaugural Compass Next Generation programme

2017

• Incorporation of Skinners & Glovers Guild, Lifetime Member award

• Trendease International, Innovation Platform, Brussels

2016

• Incorporation of Skinners & Glovers Guild, 500th Anniversary Award, 2016

• Glasgow School of Art, BA(Hons) Textile Design 2:1

• Muirhead Leather, Graduate Collection Sponsorship