Jeremy and Carla
who we are
We established Bonner Leather Studio in 2015 and have a workshop just outside Cirencester. We took up leather work during Jeremy’s recuperation from neurosurgery. Largely self taught we use traditional hand tools and leather working techniques to complete each stage, taking particular care with the stitching. Concentrating on simple form and design we create contemporary pieces of function and utility - utility being “the quality of practical use; the ability of a commodity to satisfy human wants” (Collins Concise Dictionary)
Craft Council HOTHOUSE 2016 Alumni
Tutors at West Dean College, West Sussex
Visiting Tutors at Bolton University
Co-host Tutors with Selvedge Magazine at Chateau Dumas, France 2019
what we use
We use leather from two tanneries in the South West of England - J&FJ Baker of Colyton, Devon established in 1862 Britains last remaining oak bark tannery whose methods of tanning by hand are largely unchanged since their founding; and Thomas Ware & Sons of Bristol established in 1840, our largest leather pit tannery processing hides from British beef cattle, notably Herefords. Like Bakers, working by hand the tanning process can take in excess of fifteen months. Any bright coloured leathers are supplied by our stockists in Northamptonshire and are sourced from family tanneries in Tuscany and are also vegetable tanned.
Our buckles and fittings are usually brass or stainless steel and come from a foundry specialising in equestrian hardware, known as Loriner, in Walsall. The birch plywood from which we make box work and cases is FSC certified and is sourced locally with sheet timber merchants in either Bristol or Stonehouse, Gloucestershire.
where we work
The Tallet Workshops, The Tallet, Calmsden, Cirencester. Gloucestershire. GL7 5ET
07957761955