Meet Our Crafters!
We are delighted to welcome a new group of talented artists and crafters to our gift shop at Seamus Heaney HomePlace for the period 2025 – 2028. Each brings their unique voice, passion and sense of place to the work they create.
Amo Kilfeather – Handwoven Textiles
Anne Marie Kilfeather, the creative force behind Amo Kilfeather, handcrafts exquisite woven and sewn pieces from her home studio in Letterkenny, County Donegal. Each creation is made using sustainable, small-scale, and climate-conscious methods that reflect Anne Marie’s deep respect for both craft and the environment.
Working on her double-width handloom, Anne Marie produces high-quality textiles from 100% natural fibres and authentic Donegal yarns. Her work is inspired by the rugged landscapes of Donegal, from the soil and sea to the hills and skies, capturing the spirit of place in every thread.
Amo Kilfeather’s collections celebrate the beauty of artisanal tradition with a contemporary commitment to eco-consciousness. Each piece is designed to last a lifetime and beyond, offering a connection to the land and a comforting sense of home no matter where you are.
Artybird – Hand-Felted Art
Donna Lynch is the creative heart behind Artybird, working from her studio nestled in rural County Derry, surrounded by the very landscapes that inspired the late Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney. Donna is also one of our Creative Learning Officers here at Seamus Heaney HomePlace.
Donna handcrafts all her creations using traditional wet felting and dry needle felting techniques, but with a fresh, artistic twist – she essentially paints with wool. Using various types of sheep’s wool which she hand-dyes herself, Donna layers, needle felts and wet felts to build vibrant, textured artworks. These are further enriched with hand embroidery and machine stitching, giving each piece depth, definition, and unique character.
Her work draws deeply from the rolling fields, flower-filled meadows, hedgerows, and rugged coastline of rural Ireland, as well as the rich poetic heritage of Seamus Heaney. Donna also incorporates Irish symbolic shapes and Donegal tweeds into her work, weaving tradition and innovation together.
No two pieces are ever the same – each hand-felted artwork is a one-of-a-kind creation, framed to a high standard. For those who want to share this beauty, Donna offers a selection of greeting cards featuring professional litho prints of her original felted works, perfect for any occasion, that can also be purchased in our gift shop.
Bare Leaf Wood and Leather – Bespoke Woodturning and Leathercraft
Pat Brown, a carpenter with over 30 years of experience, is the skilled artisan behind Bare Leaf Wood and Leather. He creates handmade woodturned pens alongside traditional hand-cut, hand-stitched leather goods, including wallets and cardholders.
Each woodturned piece reveals the unique character of the wood, with surprises unfolding during the process – you never quite know what the finished piece will look like until it is complete. Pat works with a variety of woods, including oak – a heritage wood from Derry (Doire), meaning “oak grove” or “oak wood.” Having visited Seamus Heaney HomePlace many times, Pat fondly recalls seeing the Conway Stewart pen on display that Heaney was gifted before going off to boarding school – the pen that became his lifelong writing companion. This inspired Pat to create one of his own pens, named Heaney’s Spade, inspired by Heaney’s poem ‘Digging’.
Pat also works extensively with leather, drawn to its strength, durability, and flexibility. He experiments with different shapes, leather types, and oil finishes. Each piece is hand-cut and hand-sewn using traditional methods, blending time-honoured craftsmanship with contemporary style.
Drawing inspiration from everyday life, nature, and poetry, Pat Brown’s work is a testament to the beauty of heritage craft, honouring the past while crafting for the present. Through his woodturning and leatherwork, Pat hopes to preserve and revive traditional crafts for future generations.
Benefield Spencer Glass – Handblown Glass Artists
Meet Scott Benefield and Andrea Spencer, the husband-and-wife duo behind Benefield Spencer Glass. Established in 2010, their studio is nestled on a farm property along the rugged North Antrim coast, just outside the village of Ballintoy in Northern Ireland.
From their fully equipped studio which includes a hot shop, flameworking setup, kilns, and a cold working facility, Scott and Andrea create all their work by hand. Each piece is carefully designed, produced and finished entirely in-house, blending traditional glassmaking techniques with contemporary design. Their production embraces the beauty of handmade craft, featuring subtle tool marks and gentle irregularities that make each item truly unique, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and finish.
Known for their signature filigrana decoration – delicate, spiralling white lines encased in glass – their handblown creations capture the magic and fluidity of the medium. Though they primarily operate as a private studio, they open their doors to the public on special occasions, open studio days where visitors can watch live glassblowing and flameworking demonstrations.
Jackie McMaster – Jewellery Silversmith and Designer
With over 20 years of experience, Jackie McMaster is a skilled jewellery silversmith and designer who masterfully blends traditional metalworking techniques with fresh, innovative approaches. Her work is deeply influenced by her metal smithing expertise, art studies and the natural world surrounding her.
Jackie’s collections range from timeless classic designs to organic, experimental pieces inspired by the materials themselves and cutting-edge technologies such as computer-aided design (CAD). By combining different techniques including handcrafted silversmithing, modern casting, and the ancient Japanese Keum-Boo technique, she creates unique, one-of-a-kind jewellery that tells a story.
Working primarily with silver and mixed metals, Jackie also collaborates closely with clients on bespoke commissions using precious metals such as gold and ethically sourced natural and man-made gemstones.
We are proud to stock Jackie’s latest Flow collection, where each piece is meticulously crafted by hand in jeweller’s wax before being cast in precious metals – a beautiful blend of artistry, skill and innovation.
Jackie’s work is a true reflection of the harmony between nature, craft, and technology, bringing elegance and individuality to every creation.
Moneyvart Ceramics – Handmade Pottery
Denise McAuley is the talented potter behind Moneyvart Ceramics, working from her cosy studio in Jordanstown, overlooking the serene Belfast Lough on County Antrim’s north shore. Denise creates a beautiful range of small-batch functional pottery and artistic pieces, all inspired by the rugged land, seascapes and rich heritage of the North Coast and the Glens of Antrim.
Her work is entirely designed by herself, with pieces either hand-built or skilfully wheel-thrown. Using primarily white stoneware, buff, and toasted clays, Denise carefully bisque fires and glaze fires each creation – first firing at 1,000°C for durability, then a second firing at 1,220°C to achieve the perfect finish.
Deeply influenced by the island of Ireland’s landscape and shoreline, Denise has a special fascination with lighthouses and the maritime shipping forecast, elements that inform the mood and character of her work. Each piece from Moneyvart Ceramics carries with it a sense of place, craftsmanship and quiet reflection, perfectly suited to bring a touch of Antrim’s natural beauty into your home.
The name Moneyvart Ceramics is inspired by the townland of Moneyvart (Monadh na bhFeart), near Cushendall, which means “hill of the miracle” – a beautiful connection to the land she loves.
Tina McGleenan – Printmaker & Mixed Media Artist
Based in rural Armagh, Tina McGleenan is a printmaker whose work is deeply rooted in nature, landscapes, and the changing seasons. After a 20-year career in architecture, Tina transitioned to a more intuitive, creative practice, working from her home studio using silkscreen monotype, botanical gel plate printing, eco-printing, and collage.
Tina’s painterly approach to printmaking, painting directly onto the screen rather than using stencils, gives her work a distinct sense of freedom and spontaneity. The resulting prints are vibrant, textured, and emotionally resonant, often incorporating foraged plants and recycled materials.
Her work draws inspiration from the Armagh landscape, the rhythms of the seasons, and the joyful colours of artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Henri Matisse. For Tina, nature offers both artistic stimulus and emotional grounding – a reminder of hope and renewal, especially in the darker days of winter.
Occasionally, Tina incorporates free embroidery into her prints, adding rich detail and tactile depth with hand-stitched threads. Each piece is a celebration of the everyday – a moment captured, remembered, and reimagined through colour, texture, and a deep sense of place.
Visit our gift shop at Seamus Heaney HomePlace and explore our new craft collection in person – stock is available in-store now!
Treat yourself or find the perfect gift for someone special.
Open Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm and Sunday: 1pm – 5pm
