A new book, Conversations on the Coast, was published on 14 September 2011. The book features photography and interviews with artists and craftspeople from around the coast of the British Isles – all made by Nick Hand during a 6,000-mile cycle journey. The featured craftspeople include a weaver, boat builder, a stick maker, a sculptor, a hat maker, a bicycle mechanic, an animator and typewriter artist.

Nick Hand recorded over 100 interviews in total while he was on a cycle journey around the coast of the British Isles. “Spending five months on a bicycle gave me all the benefits of travelling slowly and along the way I met some amazing people — artisans, artists and craftspeople,” he says. “Somehow turning up on a bike opens a few more doors and people seem a bit happier to have a natter. I would record the conversation first, and then spend some time photographing the person, their workspace, their tools, and the surroundings.”

Nick Hand’s interviews were featured on the Slowcoast website [www.slowcoast.co.uk] as photofilms, giving followers of the journey the chance to meet an inspirational group of people living and working around the coast of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

The book Conversations on the Coast presents a selection of 20 stories from the project and has a foreword written by the designer Paul Smith.

“What I love most about this book is the humility of actually quite ordinary artisans chosen by chance as they came into focus on one man’s remarkable journey around the coast. What we learn is that when you take the time to look, even the apparently straight forward lives of a bicycle repairer, hat maker or basket weaver are driven by passion and a deep seated love for their work. It is inspirational.”

Robin Wood, Chair of The Heritage Crafts Association

Conversations on the Coast will appeal to people with an interest in traditional and modern crafts, travel, cycling, the ‘slow’ movement, British culture, regional culture as well as any of the specific skills featured in the book such as stone letter carving, basket making or spinning.

The book is published by The Department of Small Works and costs £14. It can be bought via the website [www.departmentofsmallworks.co.uk]. £1 from the sale of each book will be donated to Parkinson’s UK. The project to date has raised over £10,000 for the charity.

The author, Nick Hand, is a craft photographer and cyclist. He was recently judge of the Balvenie Craft Awards alongside Kevin Mcleod and his recent photofilm of Sheffield Little Mesters was selected by the V&A to be shown at the Power of Making exhibition.

Featured in the publication:

• Kay Anderson – Spinner
• Bill Bontoft – Stickmaker
• Austin Brown – Bicycle Mechanic
• Will Brown – Outfitter
• Merlin Crossingham – Animator
• Sheena Devitt – Stone Letter Carver
• Martin Doyle – Flute Maker
• Laurence Edwards – Sculptor
• Douglas Grierson – Weaver
• John Joseph Hanna – Hat Maker
• Joanne B Kaar – Paper Maker and Artist
• Paul F Kelly – Gold and Silversmith
• Nigel Legge – Fisherman and Artist
• Dominique Lieb – Letterpress Printer
• Joanne Mitchell – Glass Maker
• Kiera Rathbone – Typewriter Artist
• John J Savage – Storyteller
• Peter Segger – Organic Farmer
• Pat Tanner – Boat Builder
• Pip Weaser – Basket Maker