Episode 8

In this episode I go back and chat over the phone to architect Hugh Conway Morris about his approach to designing and building using traditional materials and low-impact methods. Working from a converted barn near Gloucester, Hugh explains how timber, earth, and lime can be used to create buildings that are both environmentally considered and deeply rooted in craft , while still feeling ambitious and modern in their design.

I also reflect on Day Six of my ride: starting out from my parents’ home in Wiltshire, visiting blacksmith Hector Cole in the morning, and then heading north to meet Hugh before a short but memorable ride to a quiet campsite near Huntley, where a Victorian rectory garden and the first settled evening of the trip offered a welcome change of pace.

To see images from this conversation and the wider trip visit

https://www.instagram.com/crafty_cyclist/

To visit Heritage Crafts

https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/

And to see more about Hugh

https://mademanifest.co.uk/home/hugh-conway-morris/

In this episode, I talk to decorative artist Katie B. Morgan about the craft of painting and surface design. Her work spans fairground art, canal-barge decoration, restoration projects and her own ceramic pieces, all guided by an instinctive sense of balance and rhythm, drawn entirely by hand.

I also reflect on Day Seven of my ride, waking beneath cedar trees at an old rectory, tackling the long climb over Cleeve Hill, and finishing the day in Bewdley with a burger, two pints of Butty Bach, and a quiet night under canvas at Lucy’s Farm Camping.

Links:
See the visual journey on Instagram
There are links to the podcast in the highlights.
Explore Katie’s website
Discover more about endangered crafts at Heritage Crafts and, if you’d like to support their work, you’ll find a link to my JustGiving page here.

Episode 7: Hector Cole MBE — The Arrow-Maker

In this episode, I talk to blacksmith and historical metals specialist Hector Cole MBE about the ancient craft of making arrowheads. Working from his forge near Malmesbury, Hector combines practical skill with the curiosity of an archaeologist — recreating Saxon and medieval designs using traditional tools, fuels, and techniques. His work reveals how early smiths experimented with materials, layering soft and hard metals to create strength, flexibility, and a lasting edge.

I also reflect on the morning of Day Six of my ride: setting off freshly rested from my parents’ home in Wiltshire, climbing the gentler hills towards Malmesbury, and spending time in Hector’s workshop watching those centuries-old skills brought vividly back to life.

Links

See the visual journey on Instagram: @crafty_cyclist

Find out more about Hector Cole MBE and his work through the Heritage Crafts Directory

Discover more about endangered crafts at Heritage Crafts — and, if you’d like to support their work, you can donate via my JustGiving page