Weaving Stories with Willow: Meet April’s Visiting Artist Alisha Davidson

When artist Alisha Davidson signed up for a festive willow weaving day with her mum, she had no idea it would spark a whole new passion, and eventually a business. Now working under the name Mortimer Willow, Alisha creates beautiful, contemporary basketry rooted in traditional techniques. We're delighted to welcome her as our Visiting Artist at The Artists Gallery this April 2025

A festive workshop that sparked a whole new path

Alisha fondly remembers taking part in a Christmas decoration workshop with her mum in 2017, just for a fun day out, but she was immediately hooked. She kept going back to more and more classes until the tutor gently nudged her to sign up for a City & Guilds course. She didn’t hesitate - she enrolled that very day.

Building skills through study, and beyond

Alisha completed Levels 2 and 3 of the City & Guilds courses over a three-year period. Since then, she’s continued to build on those foundations with further training from experienced makers across the UK and internationally.

Learning the rules - then learning how to bend them!

Alisha really appreciated the structure of the C&G courses, they helped her understand the individual components of basketmaking, and how those elements can be combined in endless ways. With that traditional grounding under her belt, she now enjoys experimenting and creating more contemporary forms.

Inspiration, straight from the land

The materials and the seasons are Alisha’s biggest inspiration. Winter is often spent harvesting and sorting willow for the year ahead, or preparing hoops for frame baskets while the willow is still fresh. She also likes to add foraged materials when they’re available. Colour plays a big role in her work too, she’s drawn to bold contrasts that catch the eye, but also enjoys the subtlety of working with just one colour and letting texture do the talking.

Alisha loves how willow is both supple and strong while being woven, and then becomes firm and structural once finished. Her favourite variety is Norbury, a fine, dark green willow with a lovely blue tinge at the base.

Making space for making

Right now, she’s working from home—but she’s considering setting up a workshop again soon. Willow, it turns out, needs a lot of space!

When things don’t quite go to plan…

“Oh, I have weekly disasters!” she laughs. But she sees them all as learning experiences. Even if a basket doesn’t quite turn out as planned, it’s taught her something… and it still keeps the fire going when it ends up in the hearth!

Working with the flow of the day

Alisha admits she’s not an early bird. Her day usually starts with a cup of tea and a quiet sort through her materials. Once she’s in the flow though, she’s happy to keep weaving late into the night - especially if she’s caught up in a new idea she’s excited about. More tea and the odd biscuit keep her sustained when she's deep in the creative zone!

We’re thrilled to have Alisha Davidson as our Visiting Artist at The Artists Gallery throughout April 2025. You’ll find a beautiful selection of her baskets on display in the gallery, each one a unique blend of traditional technique, playful colour, and natural texture.

Pop in to see her work up close, explore the intricate details, and maybe even find a piece to take home.

You can also follow Alisha’s creative journey online at www.mortimerwillow.co.uk or on Instagram & Facebook: @mortimerwillow