New studio

It’s been 6 months already since I expanded my jewellery studio in Siop iard.

My workshop story is that after graduating in 1989 from Brighton I set up my business in a studio forge and pottery on the farm in Tregarth on my family home Bryn Cul. It was a large and spacious building, the cowshed was empty as we had just stopped farming that year when my Dad passed away. Although it was spacious it was cold and remote! I stayed there a year and a half.

In 1991 I moved to Yr Efail, Parc Glynllifon a wonderful purpose built estate forge, with a large double hearth. I still work here 31 years later, making large forged and fabricated sculptures, and components for my unusual iron jewellery. Glynllifon is a fabulous workshop for creating, I will introduce you to the forge another day.

In 2013 I opened a studio/shop on the high street with two of by best friends Dave and Angela. We needed a place to work and sell at the same time. We formed Siop iard in the center of historic Caernarfon within the old castle walls. This has been a fantastic venture, a supportive cooperative venture where all involved share space, knowledge and labour to make it work. 

Six months ago we expanded the shop floor and built a bigger communal workshop on the first floor above the shop as there are at present 8 of us involved in the shop and we occasionally have work experience students and courses too.

My little studio upstairs is a haven, it’s perfect, has all I need and the sash window overlooks the busy high street above the shop. 

One wall is a calming sage green and the floor is white so that if I drop a gemstone it should be easier to find!

in the middle of the floor is an old anvil with a smooth milled surface for smithing, concealed from bumping into its beak by a wheeling sturdy bench – very useful for laying out and plus it has a hefty swivel vice which can hold mandrel etc or be used for setting.

I have two jewellers’ benches with skins, kitted out with the usual for when I have Laura or Hanna helping me. There’s fabulous strong lighting and natural light too from the window.

The hearth can be moved along the taller standing bench, with aquaflame and propane and O2 pump underneath. 

I have lots of storage, baskets and wooden boxes and shelves. I hope you like it.

Here are some photos.