Straw Decorations with Ministry of Straw

Penny Maltby is a designer-maker and strawworker based in Oxford. She teaches traditional straw work skills to arts organisations, individuals, corporate clients and works to commission for film and TV. Drawing on her interest in heritage crafts, straw techniques and stories from rural customs and traditions, she has designed a range of contemporary textiles. These celebrate the shapes and aesthetics of her craft with modern and wearable interpretations. She describes her work as ‘looking both ways’: to the past for the techniques and traditions, and to the future using sustainable digital production methods for her luxury silk scarf designs. Wherever possible her materials and production are UK-based.