Shop / Conversations on the Coast

About the book

Conversations on the Coast presents a selection of 20 stories and photography from the Slowcoast project.

See more images here.

"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

Nick Hand set off on his bicycle from Bristol in the summer of 2009 to cycle
over 6000 miles around the coast of the British Isles. The people he talked to along the way included weavers, boat builders, a stickmaker, bicycle mechanic, screen printer, cheese maker and tea taster. Conversations were recorded and edited as photofilms and uploaded from the saddle to the Slowcoast website, 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.

Included in the book:

Kay Anderson, Spinner

Bill Bontoft, Stickmaker

Austin Brown, Bicycle Mechanic

Will Brown, Outfitter

Merin 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

Paul F Kelly, Gold and Silversmith

Nigel Legee, 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