1. Beginning

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with words. Give me writing for others' creativity but please not my own! But here we go. 

After a brilliant event at the wonderful Prior Shop; where Beck gave myself and other local business start ups an insight into running an environmentally responsible premises, I realised I need to put my plans on paper for people to see. Albeit the digital kind. So here goes…

I’ve been silversmithing for 5 years, always on the side of some other project or job, and absolutely love it. I’ve spent the last three years working full time for a bespoke tattoo company, building studios, developing the business and supporting other creatives’ career progression and artistic development. I watched as tattoo artists worked together and learnt from each other, worked to maintain an inspiring environment for them and helped promote their work to clients. I got up early, working from 7am in my private studio then heading into No Regrets for 9, often going back to my little nook in Easton to silversmith until sometimes 11 at night. 

While my private studio was great, I shared with fashion designers and the landlord didn’t actually allow gas torches for soldering. I faced barriers in finding affordable, comfortable space that would allow me to make a mess and set things on fire. I also struggled to place my work in shops in Bristol. I was selling happily online and to a local client base but the gift shops I contacted couldn’t cater for my price points. I fall in the middle of what most shops offer, with independents on Gloucester road not being able to stock small items at my price point, to my work not meeting the higher end reputation of fine jewellery galleries in Clifton. I come from a DIY punk background and while my designs cross over many different demographics, my aesthetic isn’t something you would find in the jewellery studios we currently have.

The experience of developing tattoo studios led me to realise I craved a silversmithing community. I learnt from the incredible Alice Goldsack and she has created a unique school for silversmithing in Bristol. I go back to use her incomparable tool collection, but also to connect with her experience and the community she has built. It’s a beautiful studio and I recommend everyone go and take Alice’s classes. I want to take inspiration from this ethos and create something public facing. A hub.  Bristol needs somewhere with tools for hire. It needs accessible exhibition space for silversmith’s with brilliant design, who are not as far on their journey as the fine studios of Diana Porter and Clifton Rocks. It needs better studio space for jewellers and metalsmiths to rent, and a place that connects the public with the makers and the workshop with clients interested in the process. With this inspiration in mind I am building Silver & Steel Jewellery Studio. 

Silver and Steel will be a Jewellery Studio for lovers of contemporary jewellery design from all walks of life. It will offer permanent bench space to jewellers, tool hire for people working from home, retail and gallery space for clients shopping for quality independent pieces, and workshops for those interested in learning more. I can’t wait to share more of this journey with you.

Beth <3

Alice’s Website: https://www.alicegoldsack.com/