Designer maker Louise Chesshire specialises in creating a range of silver items, from organically inspired jewellery to distinctive fold formed leaf spoons. Every item is handmade in her workshop in Herefordshire and her work is strongly influenced by the patterns and structures found in nature. Many pieces are one off items and Louise is happy to discuss special commissions.

Background

Louise studied for Ba(hons) Metalwork and Jewellery at Sheffield Hallam University from 2002 – 2005. At the end of her degree, she was commissioned to make a piece for the Assay Master at Sheffield Assay Office. She then went to the Bishopsland Workshops near Reading, for a residential post-graduate course of eleven months duration, where she continued to develop her practice as a jeweller and silversmith. In 2006 Louise exhibited her Guipure Vases at Collect at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Her Urchin vessel (see Gallery) won a Silver Award in the 2006 Goldsmiths' Craft & Design Council Craftmanship & Design Awards. She has exhibited with ‘Dazzle’ at the National Theatre in London, and featured on the Springboard stand for emerging makers at Origin in 2006.

In September 2006, Louise returned to her family home to set up as an independent silversmith. She continues to design and make her unique jewellery and silversmithing pieces, which she sells through galleries and exhibits at events in the UK. She has joined Alloy, a group of designer-maker jewellers based in Herefordshire, she also teaches an evening course in Contemporary Jewellery Design at Hereford College of Arts.

This year, Louise received her first public art commission, in the form of a very exciting project called CRAFTBOX. This project takes the form of a specially made box containing commissioned craft items by 17 makers, which will tour to schools and community centres in Wolverhampton and Shropshire. The website for CRAFTBOX is www.craftbox.org.uk