Apprentice Samatha Peacock has scooped a top national crafts award having been named Artisan Apprentice of the Year in Country Living Magazine's The Balvenie Artisan Awards. Samantha, now in the second year of her apprenticeship, impressed the judges with her skill and dedication.

Harriet Knight from The Balvenie said: "We were amazed by the quality of the work that Samantha is already creating, from restorations to stunning decorative pieces and elegant carved writing. She is a real inspiration to other young people considering careers within the traditional crafts field and demonstrates that traditional skills can be a great career choice for women as well as men."