Thought it was about time I shared some info about my regular gallery the Guild of Ten in Truro. I've been a member of the Guild since 2016 (can’t believe its been 6 years already!). Jeweller Jenny Yates invited me to join this cooperative gallery. She was on the look our for a new jeweller but got an automata maker into the bargain! All the makers in the gallery are based in Cornwall so you will meet a maker every time you are able to pop in.

The gallery has been in Truro, on Old Bridge Street, for over 40 years. It was initially set up by a group of 10 craftspeople who wanted to share rent and responsibility for their own gallery. Since the 70s it has been handed on from one group of craftspeople to the next. Currently our longest standing member, seamstress Christine Roxburgh, has been involved for 37 years, whilst our newest member, paper-crafter Pam Booth, joined in January of this year. To add yet more intrigue, textile artist Madeleine Jude was a founder craftsperson, she left for London in the 80s only to re-join in 2021!

The deal is that we all chip in for the rent and take our turn in staffing the gallery. As with all good cooperatives all decisions are made by committee so we have great fun keeping on top of things! Each maker is allocated a space which we are free to set up as we wish (within reason). I inherited a lovely jewellery display case from a previous member and was able to adapt some shelves to display my freestanding metalwork and automata.

I’ve recently added wall hung work to my display. I have often played with lino cutting so it was a natural step to use this alongside metal motifs to make something new. The Guild is a place to try out new things. I know that if our customers are keen then I’m on to a winner and I might well take a new idea further.

Its great to have a regular gallery to be part of where I can meet people and chat about my work as well as that of the other members. It always makes a pleasant change from hammering away in the workshop! It has also given me a fabulous group of craftspeople to belong to. This has been so invaluable over the last couple of difficult years. There’s always someone to run things past if I’ve got myself in a muddle and its just lovely to share how other makers run their businesses and develop their work.

We have learned to move with the times and now have an online shop with some of our wares for those times you can’t make it to Truro.