Category Archives: Art clay silver

Studio stuff

Posted on February 4, 2012 | 2 Comments

I have spent a bit of time today sorting things into cupboards in my new studio. It is going to take me a few days to unpack all the boxes of tools and find new homes for things and hopefully everything will have its place. Some things can’t go back until it has all be painted but I will at least be able to work within a few days. I am keen to get the torch set up and get on with some lamp work beads.

20120204-163255.jpg

My hearth and lamp work area are right down the far end with my new ventilation. Obviously the radio will have to find a proper home as at the moment it is perched on top of the kiln, fixing the two big kiln controllers is one of the jobs on the list, hopefully for tomorrow.

20120204-163534.jpg

The electrician still has a couple of small jobs to do, including installing the outside light (no street lights here) and the ladder is his. The fire is lit and it seems really cosy with all the new insulation even though it is now heating a much bigger space. It does seem a huge space but I haven’t got the tables and chairs in yet. I am loving the space and can’t wait to get everything finished and sorted out.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Art clay silver, cloisonne enamel, courses, Design, enamel, Enamel jewellery, enamel on silver, Enamel silver jewellery, introduction to enamelling, Metal clay, Metal clay classes, Silver and enamel jewellery, silver jewellery, workshops, Yorkshire

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Exciting new class schedule

Posted on January 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

I am adding new classes to my schedule and have just updated the website with dates and booking details. It is going to be an exciting year with my new studio, lots of space, lots of new ideas and some guest tutors! There will also be an exhibition by some members of the Guild of Enamellers in Whitby this summer so plenty of enamelling classes scheduled to coincide with that. You need to be a member of the Guild to be eligible to apply for the exhibition and it is worth joining even if you are a beginner as there are also lots of regional events going on.

20120130-211832.jpg

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Art clay silver, cloisonne enamel, courses, Design, enamel, enamel on silver, introduction to enamelling, Metal clay, workshops, Yorkshire

Tagged , , , , ,

Ryedale Building Services

Posted on January 27, 2012 | 1 Comment

Over the last few weeks my studio has been completely rebuilt. I used a small business called Ryedale Building Services and am absolutely delighted with the results.

I began by inviting Chris to look at the planned work. He took plenty of notes and asked a lot of questions before making very helpful suggestions. He let me have a very detailed quotation a few days later and throughout the whole project he has been great at keeping me completely up to date and informed. As usual in a project like this I made a few alterations and additions as I went along and Chris gave me detailed costs each time, so that I was always fully aware of the implications of even quite small additions.

Most important for me I think is that the standard of work is very high and Chris pays a great deal of attention to detail. I love the result. I now have a beautiful spacious studio, insulated, ventilated and with absolutely loads of work surfaces and storage. It really exceeds my expectations and dreams and I would be happy to recommend Ryedale Building Services and to use them again.

Thank you Chris for all the care and skill that went into my project.

The electrician has still to finish the final fix and check all the electrics and I have a decorator booked for late February. I also have a lot of stuff to sort out including the stack in the middle of the room, but here are the photographs as it looks today.

20120127-162153.jpg

20120127-162211.jpg

20120127-162221.jpg

→ 1 Comment

Posted in silver jewellery, Art clay silver, workshops, courses, Yorkshire, Design, cloisonne enamel, introduction to enamelling, enamel on silver, Metal clay classes, Enamel jewellery, Silver and enamel jewellery

Tagged , , , ,

Pins and fasteners

Posted on January 12, 2012 | Leave a comment

I have been looking at some work I made a few years ago, this kind of a review is useful and at this time of year and I like to plan new projects for the Spring.

20120112-220012.jpg

This is a brooch I made about 6 years ago, exploring the use of line by making a long narrow strip of silver, texturing and forming it. One of the aims was to make sure that the ends of the brooch pin were contained, not sticking out past the surface so nice and safe to wear. I will be teaching traditional silver jewellery making this year, please get in contact if this is something you are interested in learning.

Here are some of the exciting classes for 2012 including

2nd March 2012 Rings in metal clay
3rd March 2012 Introduction to art clay silver
10th March 2012 Introduction to enamel on art clay silver
30th March 2012 Hollow forms in art clay silver

17th, 18th, 31st March and 1st April 2012 Art Clay Certification Level 1

28th April 2012 Introduction to Art clay silver
30th April 2012 Hollow forms in art clay silver
5th, 6th, 9th, 10th May – one day workshops in enamelling

12th May 2012 – Keepsake pendant in silver clay at the Castle Museum, York
(booking through Castle Museum, York)
18th May to 21st May 2012 Art Clay Certification Level 1

13th June 2012 Special studio open day
14th, 15th July 2012 Two day class using art clay silver over glass beads
28th, 29th July 2012 Two day class art clay silver and plique a jour enamel
8th September 2012 Introduction to art clay silver
20th and 21st October 2012 Cloisonné enamelling and metal clay

Dates book up quite quickly so please get in contact if you are wanting a place.
For more information, booking, prices and terms please go to metal-clay.co

→ Leave a comment

Posted in silver jewellery, Art clay silver, workshops, courses, Yorkshire, drawing, Design, introduction to enamelling, enamel on silver

Tagged , , , ,

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

I am excited about the new plans for workshops in the coming year.

One of the workshops I will be running is making large hollow beads. Lots of samples will be available to inspire the class including the one currently in the kiln

20120101-163926.jpg

It has a design inspired by this beautiful Japanese print of koi carp.

I hope to see you here in Yorkshire sometime this year but if not use the follow button at the bottom of the page to make sure you keep up to date with events and progress of projects!

Information about classes and details for booking can be found here

→ Leave a comment

Posted in silver jewellery, Art clay silver, Metal clay, courses, Yorkshire, Design, cloisonne enamel, enamel on silver

Tagged , , ,

New class dates

Posted on December 27, 2011 | Leave a comment

My studio is based in the beautiful village of Glaisdale, about 12 miles from Whitby in North Yorkshire. It is a well equipped workshop dedicated to metal clay and jewellery making. Over the winter it has been completely refurbished, including removing a dividing wall to open up the teaching space. I am now scheduling all kinds of exciting classes for 2012 including

4th March 2012 Introduction to art clay silver charm beads
10th March 2012 Introduction to enamel on art clay silver
25th March 2012 Prong setting in art clay silver
30th March 2012 Hollow forms in art clay silver

17th, 18th, 31st March and 1st April 2012, 7th and 8th April 2012 Art Clay Certification Level 1

25th April 2012 Introduction to Art clay silver
27th April 2012 Rings in metal clay
29th April 2012 Making a silver ring (traditional silver smithing)
30th April 2012 Hollow forms in art clay silver
5th, 6th, 9th, 10th May – one day workshops in enamelling

12th May 2012 – Keepsake pendant in silver clay at the Castle Museum, York
(booking through Castle Museum, York)
29th, 30th, 31st May and 1st June 2012 Colour and silver clay
2nd June 2012 Introduction to art clay silver

9th, 10th, 16th and 17th June 2012 North Yorkshire Open Studios
My studio is also open 11th to 15th June by appointment – contact me

Images into enamel with Tilly Wilkinson, special two day class
7th and 8th July 2012

28th, 29th July 2012 Two day class art clay silver and plique a jour enamel

18th, 19th August 2012 and 1st, 2nd September Art Clay Certification Level 1

8th September 2012 Introduction to art clay silver
20th and 21st October 2012 Cloisonné enamelling and metal clay

Dates book up quite quickly so please get in contact if you are wanting a place.
For more information, booking, prices and terms please go to metal-clay.co

There are still a few dates available for one-to-one workshops, please contact me if there is something you would like to do

20111227-181943.jpg

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized, enamel, silver jewellery, Art clay silver, Metal clay, workshops, courses, Yorkshire, cloisonne enamel, introduction to enamelling, enamel on silver

Tagged , ,

Designing for enamel

Posted on December 9, 2011 | Leave a comment

Although my workshop is undergoing major rebuilding I am still designing and making work. One of the things I enjoy about working with art clay silver and enamel is that they can be done in the minimum space and with relatively few tools. This is why they can be such rewarding crafts to take up as a hobby – as well as working, as I do, at the professional level.

At the moment I have a temporary workbench set up in a corner of the bedroom. Although it isn’t a huge work surface there is room for my mini kiln, my basic clay tools, hotplate and I even have a hairdryer on a hook underneath. I will be glad to get back into the workshop eventually but have no excuse to stop working in the meantime. At the moment I am beginning a commission for some enamelled beads but this is in its early stages, with a lot of work still to do.

20111209-155410.jpg

If you would like to learn something about either enamelling or art clay silver I will be teaching lots of different classes in 2012. To find out more go to

20111209-155908.jpg
These are small enamelled stud earrings.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Art clay silver, cloisonne enamel, courses, Design, drawing, enamel, enamel on silver, Enamel silver jewellery, introduction to enamelling, Lampwork glass beads, Metal clay classes, Silver and enamel jewellery, silver jewellery, Yorkshire

Tagged , , , ,

Classes for 2012

Posted on December 2, 2011 | Leave a comment

Dates are available for the following classes for 2012, limited places available, advanced booking essential. I will be adding more dates and also some special guest tutors and master classes so please check back! I also do one to one classes by arrangement contact me for more information.

My studio is based in the beautiful village of Glaisdale, about 12 miles from Whitby in North Yorkshire. It is a well equipped workshop dedicated to metal clay and jewellery making.

2nd March 2012 Rings in metal clay
3rd March 2012 Introduction to art clay silver

17th, 18th, 31st March and 1st April 2012 Art Clay Certification Level 1

28th April 2012 Introduction to Art clay silver
5th, 6th, 9th, 10th May – one day workshops in enamelling

12th May 2012 – Keepsake pendant in silver clay at the Castle Museum, York
(booking through Castle Museum, York)

13th June 2012 Special studio open day

20111202-212449.jpg

For bookings or more information go to or leave a message in the comments box here (I won’t publish it)

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Art clay silver, cloisonne enamel, courses, enamel on silver, introduction to enamelling, Metal clay, silver jewellery, workshops, Yorkshire

Tagged , , , ,

Building work begins

Posted on November 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

The building work has started in my studio. The plan is to create a beautiful new teaching space from what was two separate rooms and it will allow me to develop my ideas for new classes and also, very excitingly, to invite other teachers to run special classes here.

20111129-201101.jpg
This is how it looked first thing this morning. The first week will be really messy as Chris dismantles the dividing wall but it is great to see my ideas progressing.

20111129-201257.jpg
In the meantime I have set up a temporary workbench in the house so that I can still get on with some projects.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Art clay silver, cloisonne enamel, courses, Design, enamel on silver, introduction to enamelling, Metal clay, workshops, Yorkshire

Tagged , , ,

Starting to clear out

Posted on November 27, 2011 | Leave a comment

I have started the big clear out ready for the builder to begin work in my studio tomorrow.

20111127-170951.jpg

This corner of the room has always been used to stack ‘stuff’ out of the way and was hidden behind a sheet. The plan is that this corner will house the equipment for lamp working glass and also my hearth for soldering and torch work. I am really excited about the reorganisation as it will really open up the space and bring what were wasted areas into use.

There is still quite a lot to move but the clear out is well underway. Today a friend has collected boxes of dark room equipment that I haven’t used for around 20 years. Her partner will now be able to set up his own darkroom and it is great that it will be used and enjoyed again. I have also sorted out a lot of real junk (why did we keep this stuff for so long?) A trip to the tip is planned for later in the week.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Art clay silver, cloisonne enamel, courses, Design, enamel on silver, introduction to enamelling, Lampwork glass beads, Metal clay, silver jewellery, workshops, Yorkshire

Tagged , ,