ABOUT

There's a workshop on Shrewsbury Town Walls unchanged for decades, a fascinating place, like stepping back in time.

I was invited to take photographs of the stacks of cases, racks of instruments, traditional tools and spare strings, so long as I didn't interrupt Julian whilst he was working. The book titled "J. Batey | Violin Maker" captures the atmosphere of the workshop.

Julian served his apprenticeship in Washington with Barry Oliver, a graduate of the Cremona School of Violinmaking. After working with Rafael Carrabba in Seattle, he returned to work with his father in North Shropshire, an internationally renowned expert & dealer.