About Esther
Based in Cornwall, I take inspiration from my beautiful natural surroundings and the goings on of coast and country. My upbringing on the north coast of Scotland also has a strong influence on my work.
I trained in jewellery and silversmithing at Birmingham’s School of Jewellery, taking the leap from jewellery to automata making in 2014. I was inspired by wonderful automata makers in the Falmouth area.
Copper, silver and brass are the main metals I work with. I also use enamel, reclaimed tin and reclaimed or coppiced Cornish wood. I treat the metal with patination and oxidisation techniques to achieve turquoises, rich browns, reds and blacks. Leaf metal applications and varnishes seal and add lustre. Each piece is crafted entirely by hand so whilst I can reproduce similar items each piece will be entirely unique. Please bear this in mind when ordering work - good things take time.
I grew up in rural Scotland and now live by the edge of a creek in Cornwall. Both places are abundant in nature so are endlessly inspiring. I am in the enviable position of being able to flit between these two most beautiful of places which has a profound influence on what I make. I love to make trees with leaves and birds. I also love adding characters that interact with their metal worlds, whether they are simple fisherfolk out on their boats or ramblers exercising their dogs.
My passion for the natural world means that where possible I use recycled metal and I make sure that all my items are delivered to you in 100% recycled packaging. All the wood I use is reclaimed, either from local furniture makers or boat builders whose off-cuts are perfect for making bases for my pieces. Being a canny Scot I use and reuse scraps of metal and I am lucky enough to have many beautiful old hand tools that have been passed on to me or picked up along the way. There is very little waste in the metal business!
Esther in her workshop
Watch a short film made by the National Trust for their 2021 exhibition celebrating 125 years of nature conservancy and access. See my workshop and gain some insight into how I work.
The workbench
STOCKISTS
ATHOLL GALLERY Dunkeld, Scotland
CORNWALL CRAFTS ASSOCIATION Trelissick, Cornwall
FOUND GALLERY Dunbar, Scotland
GUILD OF TEN Truro, Cornwall
HARBOUR GALLERY Porlock Weir, Somerset
LIGHTHOUSE GALLERY Penzance, Cornwall
LIMEKILN GALLERY Calstock Cornwall
NEW BREWERY ARTS Cirencester
SPINDRIFT Portscatho, Cornwall
WHITEWATER GALLERY Polzeath, Cornwall
Training
Edinburgh College of Art - Foundation Art and Design
Birmingham School of Jewellery - BA (hons) Silversmithing and Jewellery
Falmouth University - MA Creative Education