Santiago Besteiro

Leatherworker

©Paco Rocha

©Santigo Besteiro

Leather made with heart

Santiago is self-taught
He was a finalist in the 2020 edition of the National Crafts Award
He is proud of his Galician heritage

Santiago Besteiro is self-taught as far as leatherwork is concerned, however his background includes studies and training both in wood and stone carving. Thanks to this creative and multidisciplinary approach, he has developed an open-minded and problem-solving attitude in his craft. The workshop officially opened its doors in 2018, following three years of planning and development. Santiago treats leather with love, his creations are "heart made" – as he likes to put it. He chooses the material with great care, designs, cuts, glues, stitches and polishes with painstaking attention, combining leather with stone and wood. His creations include bags, wallets and briefcases, as well as interior pieces and sculptures, either one-of-a-kind or in limited editions.

Interview

©Santigo Besteiro

©Paco Rocha

Which other crafts did you try before focusing on leather?: I have always had an interest for all things manual. I also have a creative attitude. This is why I started to transform raw materials into beautiful objects that would convey an idea or concept. Craftsmanship reflects my idea of a way of life: sustainable and aiming at quality.
How would you describe well made?: To me well made has to do with a necessary compromise with quality, lasting over time and with a well devised design, each step should be a necessary element of the whole. An object that is well made is an honest reflection of who you are, showing respect for your public.
Who or what are your inspirations?: Galicia is my main inspiration: I feel a deep connection with the materials supplied by nature. My Fine Arts studies shaped my taste and interests, along with the work of artists Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Long of the Land Art movement, or the Bauhaus and Art Nouveau.
What was your first creation?: I started developing a collection which would incorporate leather and noble woods like olive and maple, it is called Bento, which in my regional language means “wind”. The letter B stands for my surname, Besteiro and I like to think of it as the wind filling my sails towards my goals.

Santiago Besteiro is a master artisan: he began his career in 2004 and he started teaching in 2008