ARTIST BIOGRAPHY 

 

Originally from the Netherlands, Anneh Kessels now has her studio and willow farm next to the beautiful Bulkley River. She has found her way to Quick, BC, in a very round-about way, and is extremely happy to live in this great and lively community!

She enjoys working with natural materials collected locally. Nature is a great inspiration to her works, as well as functionality! Recently she started incorporating bulrush, birch bark, willow bark, spruce bark, driftwood and clay pottery into her basket adventures. After finishing 6 years of education in The Netherlands, including an Art Program, Anneh has travelled extensively and has studied and practised pottery, photography, felting, painting, weaving, silver smithing and basketry in different parts of the world. Anneh has been making willow baskets for the last 16 years.Initially book and self-taught on her baskets, in the last 4 years she has participated in lessons by renowned Basketry Professionals from Eastern and Western Europe, The States and Canada.Anneh  enjoys going out and wild-crafting all her willows, bulrushes, spruce and birch along local rivers, streams and lakes. In addition to growing her own colourful basketry willows. After harvesting, she cures all her materials, before making them into traditional and one-of-a-kind baskets, sculptures, fences, gates, room dividers, lampshades and furniture.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact Anneh for custom made baskets or other woven items. You can look up Willow Bender Baskets on Facebook to check out her latest creations, or look at the website.

 

Anneh also has more Basket Weaving Workshops planned throughout 2020 and 2021.