a experimental artist
Some us arrived here from other parts of the world when we saw the light and others such as Shelley were just born here. Technically, he’s a true Cornishman who has himself traced his family tree back to the 1650’s. You don’t get anymore Cornish than that. get on….
ShelIey remembers from an early age that he always had an obsession for making things.
He also remembers making art for his parents as well as making weapons, as you do, and armour to play war games with his friends. Shelley was clearly drawn towards hand skills in metal related arts….
“I made a miniature guillotine when I was ten after being fascinated with the use of them in the French Revolution”
When it came to schooling, Shelley admitted that he struggled in school but did end up with his GCSE’s and an A* in art, so that prompted him to head to college and study art and design. He then followed that with a foundation degree in silver smithing and metal fabrication at Falmouth Uni. After he finished his degree, he worked many different jobs over time but found it difficult to find a career in the world of creative metal work. That was until he met the well established copper worker Michael Johnson. He joined up with Michael and gained a scholarship through the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust to further his career and train as a metal shaper /craftsman. He continued to make artwork for himself alongside the commissioned work at the CopperWorks. Shelley said “After making some great sales I soon realised that people seemed to believe in what I was doing” so his thoughts then turned towards going it alone.
So, he took the plunge, moved into a caravan with his family and set up his new studio in an old cattle shed next door. What I found interesting from chatting to Shelley was he nearly didn’t choose art as a subject at all. Going pro as a professional skateboarder was more on the cards but a string of knee surgeries in his youth ruled that option out. Nearly 3 years on and Shelley has now exhibited his work throughout the UK and sold his work internationally. Clearly art was the right choice and direction for him.
Prior to meeting up with Shelley, we exchanged messages and the odd phone conversation leading to a few ideas I had for imaging, when we were due to met up. He too had an idea or two himself and one such idea is reflective in the gallery below. Fire, gas and fairy liquid. I did ask Shelley if he could lay on a little theatre that day for me and he certainly delivered on that front.
I watched him work in his love of sheet bronze and admired the “man” tools he worked with. His art reflects the colours and textures that the Cornwall coastline offers in all its complexities and detail. His studio was like most good artists studios are, busy, organic and untidy. Just how a real studio should be and the best environment to work in.
Thanks Shelley
