5th December 2025.

Blackruthven, near Perth.

Simon Cooper, the Bumbling Basketeer, will be exhibiting his traditional oak swill and split-wood baskets as part of the “Something Different for Christmas” exhibition at The Bield, Blackruthven, near Perth, running from 29 November to 7 December 2025. The exhibition brings together 23 artists and makers for a celebration of Scottish craft and creativity and features ceramicists, painters, printmakers, woodworkers, textile artists, and basketmakers, all showing original work in the beautiful surroundings of The Barn Gallery.

In addition he will be demonstrating oak swill basket making on Saturday 29 November, a rare chance to see oak swill basketry in action and to experience the quiet beauty of traditional craftsmanship brought to life.

He will be running Tampico or Arenga brush-making workshops on Friday 5 December (10–11am and 12–1pm, £25 per person).The Brushmaking workshop must be booked by emailing workshops@sdfc.art.

For more information visit the Something Different for Christmas website or Simon’s Instagram account.