a metalworker
Living and working by our beautiful Cornish coast can often stimulate our thoughts and creative minds as to what mediums we choose to work and design with. There are a few of us out there such as Sharon who searched even deeper into our Cornish historical connective past to work with a metal such as copper with the addition of brass and elements of silver too. This is her story and how she found herself in the picture postcard of St Ives.
Over the years, Sharon was drawn to St Ives by her out of season holidays when the beaches were empty and the crowds were less. I guess she felt that magnetic draw that so many of us feel when visiting here. Ironically, the Victorian property she lived in prior to moving here had a stone plaque above her door saying ‘St Ives Mount’. It seems that it was her destiny to find herself here and her artistic temperament of course. Sharon told me “The artistic community & amount of galleries was an important part of our consideration when planning to relocate “ and relocate she did, some 7 years ago now.
“Copper will become a range of hues of warm colours, reds, oranges, pinks & even purple tones which you cannot control.”
I was intrigued to see just how she utilised the metals she so passionately works with. Sharon guided me through one of the processes she uses, “When joining metals together, I use a propane gas blow torch to heat the surfaces. As you heat the metal to a high temperature, oxides will start to form changing the colours.Copper will become a range of hues of warm colours, reds, oranges, pinks & even purple tones which you cannot control.”
Sharon’s designs are all coastal influenced by our beach seaweed, various coastal sea creatures & her beach finds. Beach combing in fact is one of her favourite past times and let’s face it, we’ve got some of the best beaches down here in the South West. Sharon’s little workshop world is an eclectic mix of colours, metals, artwork, personal designs and much more. I’m guessing that this is a place where she feels most creative and can develop her work further. RD
