Lucy Cushley is the saddler who makes more than saddles. After a lifetime of working with horses (and being accompanied by dogs) in 2016 Lucy travelled to Enfield, London, to study for two years at Capel Manor College, one of the last places to study saddlery full time.

Since returning to Co Down in Northern Ireland, Lucy has continued to develop her skills in saddlery and leatherwork, regularly traveling to Britain to undertake further qualifications and training from Masters. Their mentorship, alongside support from a number of societies and trusts, has meant that she is able to continue to supply her customers with bespoke, luxury items of leatherwork and saddlery. For well loved or damaged items, Lucy provides a repair/refurbishment service to give items a renewed lease of life.

It is these traditional skills, and high quality materials which let your bespoke commissions come to life. From bridles, bags, collars to home furnishings, working on new, exciting designs, we are always excited to bring your ideas to life.

Pictavia Leather is owned and run by Hamish Lamley, based in Perthshire, the heart of Scotland. All leather products are designed and made by Hamish and his apprentices.

Hamish has over a decade experience in traditional leatherworking, and through years of research and experimental archaeology has worked hard to explore Pictish culture. Hamish has consulted on and starred in various television shows to talk about the Picts and showcase Pictish culture.

I began teaching myself leatherwork whilst bedbound for several years. It provided a way to focus my mind, and gave me a lot of time to pursue another avenue to researching my passion for history and archaeology. 

For me Leatherwork is also about function. I use traditional methods because they have also been developed over thousands of years, and are often the most functional and practical. I want my work to outlive me, and so I strive to create the most durable works to combine function and beauty.

Leatherwork is my connection to the past. It is my way to solve problems as our ancestors did, to work at my own pace and see the world as they did.
When I take knife, needle and thread to leather, it is with the same techniques that leather craftsmen have used for thousands of years as I explore early Medieval leatherworking methods and tools alongside their contemporary counterparts.
There is the inherent challenge of trying to solve a problem using only the most basic of tools.
It is my passion to recreate ancient Pictish artwork from the stone carvings and jewllery, bringing the old medium back to life in leather, and to research and produce historic replicas based on archaeological finds.

Jeff Churchill is the founder and owner of Jitterbug Boy, a purveyor of high-quality, custom made boots and shoes for the arts. His shoes can be seen on stage and screen worldwide.

Jeff’s focus is on fine craftsmanship working in unison with the specific technical and physical requirements of the client’s productions. They understand the effect that the proper shoes have on not just the costume or the artist, but on the whole show.

Tony Fantasia is an artist and leather worker and family man. He has a goal is to bring you the best quality custom design work at the best possible price. Tony strives to perfect his leather craft and has started to build interest in other mediums such as metalwork, foam sculpting and set design. And incorporating engraving and etching, along with wood working, to expand his general offerings to the public.

Vision Saddlery was founded by Owen Morgan in 2007, after having gained years of experience and training in Europe and North America. Now with over 20 years in the industry, he is able to let his understanding of the demands of the equestrian world show through the designs of the Vision saddles.​

In his teens when working in the family tack store, Owen set two goals for himself: to gain work-related experience with the tack store's saddler, and to train with the best saddle companies in Canada and internationally.

At age 17, Owen took his first course with Prestige Italy; and later, a course with David Kempsell, Master Saddler and creator of the Flair Air Bag. In his 20's, he felt that his skills needed to be refined even further and headed to Europe to train with Tolga Aksoyek in Belgium. Tolga started making higher-end saddles in 1991 and has produced and worked on many different saddle lines that are sold world-wide.

In 2009, Owen was hired by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Musical Ride as their full-time in-house saddler. He fits and maintains the saddles for all of the horses, as well as all of the leather work required.

Lucy Ellis Leatherwork was launched in 2019 after Lucy discovered that there was a lack of genuine, high quality leatherwork available. As a Master Saddler and Master Bridlemaker, with years of experience in the equestrian industry, Lucy understands the importance of correct workmanship. She strives to create beautiful products using traditional methods so they are built to last, just like the good old days.

Rachael Argo is a Society of Master Saddlers (UK) Qualified Master Saddler and Qualified Saddle Fitter.

Rachael was head groom at Belwade Farm, a horse stables near Aboyne, Scotland, where she oversaw a yard of up to 100 horses and 8 staff members. During this time she was fortunate to be able to work with some of the best vets, farriers, physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons in the UK. Rachael developed a good eye for movement and conformation in a horse and also an appreciation for what we expect from horses and the problems that can arise from these expectations.

Rachael also rides to a high level and finds that her riding ability helps greatly when assessing horse and rider for a saddle fit. This gives her a better understanding of what is required from the saddle and from the horse. It enables her to pick up on issues that may otherwise go unnoticed and often helps to avoid potential problems for horse and rider.

Rachael enjoys all aspects of the saddlery trade but especially saddle fitting as no two horse / rider combinations are ever the same.

Paul Van Dyke says his interest in good horses and gear began early in life so it was no surprise that this interest led him to his eventual career. Two saddlery apprenticeships, under Ron Silverman and Don Butler respectively, finely developed his skills as a horseman. Paul credits working with different horsemen, cowboying and starting colts as foundational to his success.

In May 2004 Paul followed his passion and officially struck out into the business on his own; making, using and showing quality stock horses. Most months find him at home near Sheridan, Wyoming starting colts, but a key part of the business sees him traveling across the country starting colts for different breeders. Paul is often found out in the hills, on the ranch, or day working, using his horses in situations that only genuine cowboy work can do to develop them. The winter months are the time he uses to build custom saddles in his shop.

Paul has a deep respect and love for the horse trade and it gives him great satisfaction to go to a branding, see a horse he started quietly dragging calves and then turn to see a good hand riding one of his saddles.

Trent Peterson of Bellingham, WA would say he has always taken the road that is less travelled, and that he will always find a way to travel that road. His life journey took him on a life as a ski bum in Vail, CO, a school stint in Fisheries Science that landed him a job for the Washington Fish & Wildlife Department, and then he found himself making a hand on the Walking D ranch in Winthrop, WA. which is where he first was introduced to horses and packing with mules in the mountains.

Trent moved abroad to the UK to become fully immersed in the culture, pubs, and vineyards for the next 6 years growing grapes and making wine but missing the wildness of the mountains he grew up around. There, he learned life is about living and not just existing.