David Morgan Rees
Yorkshire crafts and craftspeople

The David Morgan Rees Collection - an archive held in the Sheffield Hallam University Special Collection

David Morgan Rees is a freelance writer and photographer concentrating on rural subjects. His Yorkshire Crafts are photographs of Yorkshire craftsmen and women taken during the 'seventies to create a visual record of people's skills before these skills are forgotten. They are printed in black and white to emphasise the shape and texture of the products.

There are 50 framed photographs as well as negatives, contact prints, information boards and leaflets about the archive. A selection of David's photographs has been exhibited under the title: Privileged people in a number of centres across Yorkshire.

Images from the David Morgan Rees Collection

The photographs on this site were taken during the 1970s by David Morgan Rees. The framed originals are kept in an archive at Sheffield Hallam University. A selection of the photgraphs has been exhibited under the title "privileged people" at various galleries and museums in Yorkshire and are available for future loan

Boating Industry

Ship's Figure Head Carver

Trevor Ellis carved and painted a series of ship's figureheads from pine in the small Coverdale village of Horsehouses. He supplied these to yaht clubs throughout Britain.

Coble Boat Builder

The coble used to be the mainstay of the inshore fishing industry off Yorkshire's north-east coast. A coble is built from experience, from knowing exactly what the fisherman wants. There is no such thing as a set of plans.

Billy Clarkson of Whitby looking at the shape and form of a coble during construction. The boat's design makes for maximum seaworthiness.