Over the 11 years that I have been blessed to know Oliver and Pope they have been so generous in sharing their invaluable wisdom, experience and advice with me. As a result I have learned so much from them, their tenacity, their integrity in work and life and always going the extra mile. The wonderful example they have set has truly been an inspiration to me and no doubt countless other individuals.
During my postgraduate training at Bishopsland in 2007 – 2008, this time was an opportunity to develop my own unique style and creative voice through my silversmithing work with the help of knowledgeable tutors at Bishopsland who encouraged me to develop new ideas through to complete works, while also developing my technical craft skills.
Throughout the one year programme and in the 10 years since there have been opportunities to regularly take part in prestigious exhibitions up and down the country. The opportunity of exhibiting at the V&A and the Saatchi Gallery have given me the experience of talking to art collectors, meeting prospective clients and also helped develop my knowledge of the market place and where to position my work. These were things that university did not cover, but were central to Bishopsland. I am still learning, but understand it all so much better as a result. Had I gone on to do all this by myself I would have had to organise my own exhibitions, which means time away from designing and making. Bishopsland took all that on, ensuring I completed my work to a high standard.
I feel being on the Bishopsland programme, has given me real confidence and a ‘can do’ attitude, as well as the practical skills to be able to find a way to do whatever I set my mind to. After leaving Bishopsland I went on to set up my studio workshop in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter.
I am particularly grateful for Bishopsland’s amazing support in helping me clarify which direction I wanted to go in with my business and help me gain a much clearer sense of what I should be doing and just how important it is to be wise and maintain the highest levels of integrity in my work.
It was at Bishopsland that all my studying came together and started to crystallize into a creativity that has enabled me to have an exciting and fulfilling career as an artist silversmith today.
I specialise in designing and hand making the finest pieces, from objet d’art and tableware to luxury gifts and bespoke lighting that will both delight and enable the clients that I collaborate with to mark special moments in their lives, give precious gifts to their loved ones and enrich spaces that they live or work in.
Alongside running my business, I also deliver creative metalsmithing workshops to children and people in the community through Arts 4 All (England) CIC, a social enterprise that I set up in 2016 to help people discover and develop their creativity and because I have witnessed first-hand how the arts can make such a positive transformative impact on people’s lives and mental health.