Artisan Type: Artisans

Artisan 18

Celtic 21 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:46:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Mollys Pottery
Description: Molly’s pottery-pottery with soul!

Profile: My studio is based in the bog lands of Ireland.
My work is a reflection of that ease and timelessness which is a very strong feature of the bog.
I would describe my work as funky contemporary and yet timeless. There is an edge or rawness to my ceramics, a kind of primitive aspect which imbues each piece.
Alchemy comes to mind with the fusion of many elements to create beautiful colours.
And like all good art there is a sense of the artist in each piece of work. Molly’s pottery, pottery with soul!

Location: Ireland
Website: www.mollyspottery.ie

Artisan 17

Celtic 21 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:33:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Black Dragon Crafts
Description: Black Dragon produces original Celtix, Cyfrin and Cwlwm beads and buttons, intricately engraved with Celtic knots and available on jewellery or on their own.

Profile: On a green Welsh hillside, the Black Dragon (Est 1974) has designed and produced three unique and award-winning ranges of beads: silver plated pewter “Celtix”(“kel-ticks”), sterling silver “Cwlwm” (“koo-lum” from the Welsh for knotted) and pewter “CYFRIN” (“kuv-rin” from the Welsh for secret). All are engraved with intricate and original Celtic knotwork and cast exclusively for her. They look fabulous and feel valuable…beware of imitations! The beads are available either threaded into three collections of beautifully packaged and branded jewellery, which is made with unusual fillers and clearly labelled genuine gemstone beads…or on their own for other makers and merchants to thread and for profit.
All are sensibly priced and everything is available to individuals and the trade...

Location: Wales
Website: www.blackdragon.co.uk

Artisan 16

Celtic 21 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:17:00 GMT

Artisan Name: MoJo Silks
Description: MoJo Silks is a Pembrokeshire artist specialising in silk painting. Designs are hand painted on silk. Inspiration comes from the local landscape, legends & nature.

Profile: MoJo Silks is a Pembrokeshire based solo artist specialising in the medium of silk painting. This is not silk screen printing or silk dying, all the designs are hand painted originals on silk using traditional methods. The designs are constantly evolving, becoming more elaborate and technically challenging. Inspiration comes from the stunning local landscape, legends & nature, as well as celtic and also far eastern influences.
The body of work has expanded beyond pictures to encompass a whole collection of works including wallhangings, cushions, ties, scarves, cards and clothing. Hand painted fabrics and decorative panels are a speciality.
Each original is totally unique, as although popular designs can be repeated, colour shades can vary, as all the items are handmade using natural materials.
There is also a range of reproduction prints and cards.

Location: Wales

Artisan 15

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:44:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Toulhoat
Description: 750 gold and 925 silver Celtic Breton and Contemporary jewels created and signed by Pierre TOULHOAT. Precious statuettes. Bronze objects. Made in Brittany - France.

Profile: Pierre TOULHOAT was born in 1923 in Quimper, in south Brittany, France where he lives and works. He trained and graduated as a sculptor and stained glass master in the decorative art school of Paris.
He early collaborated with various firms:
Keraluc ceramics
Le Minor fabrics and embroidery
La Monnaie de Paris
Daum crystal glass in Nancy
Rivière jewels in Paris
Pierre TOULHOAT and his wife Yvonne established their own jewellery workshop in 1956. Their son Yves actually runs the business with his sister Marie.
Today TOULHOAT 750 gold and 925 silver jewels represent more than one thousand items.
The very large TOULHOAT collection spreads itself through many themes: Breton motives
nature (sea, vegetable kingdom, animals...)
Celtic and even Nordic art
contemporary art
religious art
varied symbols
It includes pendants, rings, necklaces, bangles, ear-rings …
Each model is signed by the artist.
Pierre Toulhoat has also conceived precious little sculptures, sometimes enhanced with fine stones.
TOULHOAT also makes wall crosses, paper-knives and cups out of bronze.

Location: Brittany
Website: www.toulhoat.com

Artisan 14

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:42:00 GMT

Artisan Name: The Rocking Sheep Company
Description: Specialist makers of life-size toy rocking sheep and lambs, also; sheep and lamb 'seats', handcrafted from sustainable materials.

Profile: We are a small workshop based at the foot of the famous 13th century castle in the picturesque village of Harlech, North Wales. We specialise in producing hand crafted, premium quality, life-size rocking rams, ewes & lambs...manufactured from natural sustainable materials sourced here in Wales. Our rocking sheep are an ideal woolly alternative to the rocking horse - Each is unique and is of heirloom quality.
We only use genuine, thick, luxurious fleeces which are individually chosen. Although naturally dirt resilient they are easily removed for washing. The rocking sheep are sturdily constructed by hand from solid seasoned timber with no sharp edges. The ears and horns are produced from safe, soft faux suede - All finishes are non-toxic, safety being of prime concern.
All of our 'Georgian bow' rockers have a genuine rubber insert to help prevent sliding, making our sheep and lambs' rocking action silent and non marking on hard floors, "made to be used and loved, not just an ornament".

Location: Wales

Artisan 13

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:40:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Rockoco Contemporary Slate Design
Description: A design led range of slate products combining the natural beauty of slate, high quality craftsmanship and stylish packaging, resulting in timeless sophistication for your home.

Profile: Rockoco is based in the heart of Pembrokeshire, west Wales. I am now in to my second year of trading and haven't looked back since setting up the business in 2003. I design and make all of the products. It is a lengthy process as each slate is hand cut, sanded and sealed for protection and finished to the highest standard. My aim is to achieve a balance between maintaining the natural beauty of the slate while making a practical and durable product, for example, tableware must withstand staining.
I am continually expanding the range. At the moment the range consists of tableware (tablemats, coasters and pot stands / cheeseboards), home accessories and a range of clocks.
Slate is a fine-grained laminate stone found in all parts of the world. The metamorphism of layers of clay, sedimentary deposits and shale into slate can take up to 500 million years. Age, geographical conditions and accessory minerals all contribute to the wide variations in the colours and textures of slate. The slate I use is sourced from all over the world - from Wales to Africa, depending on the use I have for it, for example, Mantle clocks are often made with African slate as it has such vibrant colours running through the slate.
It is a durable, non-fade and attractive natural material which is versatile to work, this is apparent from the range of designs.

Location: Wales
Website: www.rockoco.co.uk

Artisan 12

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:37:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Primrose Standing Puzzles
Description: Primrose produces beautiful, hand-cut standing jigsaw puzzles. All original designs, they are fun to solve or, as objects d'arte, to display around your home.

Profile: Jill Bissenden and Massimo Piemontese began producing their eye-catching, freestanding puzzles in their studio in central Italy in 1979, selling both directly to the public and supplying retail outlets in major cities across Europe. Since moving to the majestic and mystical Pembrokeshire coast; legends, knights and castles have become the inspiration for their latest designs. The artwork is created by Jill and, as Massimo individually hand-cuts each jigsaw, no two are identical. Unlike traditional puzzles each piece is cut into a recognisable shape, for instance a cat, thus emphasising the drawing and overall picture.
They are then meticulously airbrushed at least twice to build up intense and vibrant colours giving a 3 dimensional form to each part. The finished standing puzzle is both unique and beautiful.
As Jill and Massimo are sensitive to environmental issues they recycle where possible and keep packaging to a minimum. The wood used is from European sustainable sources (no Tropical woods are used) and the water-based, non-toxic paints comply with European Safety Standards.
As a small family enterprise production is limited therefore retail outlets are carefully selected. Sales to the public are through craft fairs and this web site giving you the opportunity to purchase an unusual and rare gift. So whether decorating a child's bedroom or adding a touch of colour to your home or office you'll find these exclusive designs have a timeless appeal and are safe, durable and fun.
It is advised that, until your child reaches 36 months, this article is used solely as a room decoration away from the child's reach and not as a toy as it contains small parts.

Location: Wales

Artisan 11

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:33:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Pembrokeshire Boxes - Roger Sztencel
Description: I am Pembrokeshire's only full-time box maker. Self taught I produce heirloom pieces from indigenous and exotic timber, including jewel, music, keepsake and puzzle boxes.

Profile: I came to Pembrokeshire from Leicester in 1992. After 20 years in the I.T. industry I left my 'proper' job in 2002 to work with fine woods, making high quality boxes. I am Pembrokeshire's only full time box maker.
I love working with wood. The sight, smell and feel of freshly milled hardwood is like nothing else I know. Sometimes finding just the right piece is like a geologist discovering a geode in an unassuming pebble, and the aroma of the timber evokes memories and mind pictures of the living tree.
I use a range of hardwoods, ethically sourced, to create individual hand-crafted and hand-finished boxes. Inlay is sometimes used for enhancement and oils or pure waxes are used to finish the pieces. All fittings are solid brass and boxes are lined with cotton velvet.
The nature of working with wood imparts an element of uniqueness, with no two boxes ever being identical, so each one is an original.
Each takes many hours, in stages, to create, from timber selection to final finishing, and I take pride in creating heirloom pieces that can be passed on to future generations - perhaps the ultimate recycling of a scarce and precious resource.
Box sizes and weights are nominal as I work to the wood and not to a factory-like uniformity. Each takes some 7 to 14 days to finish.
I hope you enjoy what I do, enough to want to own a part of it. Should you be interested in a bespoke box, I'll be more than happy to discuss this with you.

Location: Wales

Artisan 10

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Paul Morafon
Description: I specialise in hand embossed and cast pewter, producing useful object d'art.

Profile: I have been involved with making useful and decorative objects in pewter for the best part of thirty years. My skills as a designer involve making items in hand-embossed (Initialled by me) and pressed sheet pewter. Over the past ten years, I have developed my skills in casting pewter, resulting in my Calon Spoon which was featured in the 'Emporium' section of Country Living magazine, January 2000. All my work is produced here in Pembrokeshire.

Location: Wales

Artisan 9

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:16:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Carole King
Description: Painter and printmaker of landscape and wild flowers.

Profile: Carole graduated from The Surrey Institute of Art and Design with a degree in Fine Art. She now lives and works in Newcastle Emlyn, using the landscape and wild flowers of West Wales as her inspiration.
Paintings and original prints use heightened colour and cropped images to accentuate shape and structure.
Unusual viewpoints and macro images are combined to recreate the intimate relationship of the pollinating insect with its host, or to examine a feature of the landscape as it interacts with the countryside beyond.

Location: Wales
Website: www.carolekingart.co.uk

Artisan 8

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:13:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Axel Johansen
Description: Axel Johansen, Danish painter 1872-1938. Very fine portrait painter and marine artist. Many of his paintings can be seen in Studio Rosa Danica, near Carmarthen.

Profile: Axel Johansen was born in Roskilde, Denmark and lived on Amager near Copenhagen. Many of his paintings are of Copenhagen harbour, Dragoer, Christianshavn, and Sweden. He travelled a lot in his younger days in Italy, Germany, and France. He had close connection with Professor P. Jerndorff. Axel studied at the Royal Danish Art Academy app.1900-1905. In the 1920's and 1930's, he devoted a lot of his life to the restoration of Sonne's Frieze at Thorvaldsen's museum. He became UC, (equivalent to RA) in1929 at Charlottenborg. He was a very fine portrait painter and his love for the sea made him a well known and loved marine painter.
In the 1930's he painted for the East Asiatic Company, but unfortunately many painting were lost during the war when the East Asiatic building was bombed. All the East Asiatic ships had paintings onboard and likewise they were lost when the ships were sunk. But as he was a very prolific painter many still exist and are on display at the Danish open house in Wales.

Location: Wales
Website: www.rosadanica.co.uk

Artisan 7

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:09:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Images of Nature - Tricia O'Kane
Description: A largely self-taught photographer, I now run my own business producing fine art photographic greetings cards, prints and an annual "Images of Wales" calendar.

Profile: I have lived in Wales for the past twelve years and a few years ago enrolled, unsuspecting, on an introductory, black and white photography course. Since then, I have grown increasingly addicted to the art of photography and now run a business producing my own photographic greetings cards and prints. During 2004 I entered work for a local Open Exhibition and took part in a successful joint exhibition at the Guildhall, Cardigan. I have also undertaken commissions and portrait photography and have just produced my second "Images of Wales" calendar, for 2006. I print cards and prints (up to A3 size) using genuine Epson inks on archive quality fine art paper and card.
Inspired by photographers ranging from the early pictorialists to Ansel Adams and Charlie Waite, I am drawn to landscape photography where my main inspiration is the awesome beauty of nature itself.

Location: Wales

Artisan 6

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:07:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Glenn Ibbitson
Description: Figure drawing and Landscape painting in a realistic idiom. Portraiture to commission.

Profile: On a formal level the life drawings synthesise tone and line to describe volume and structure; the technical skill employed presents a counterpoint to contemporary celebrity-driven culture of the perfect body by depicting ordinary people with their myriad physical imperfections. The isolated figure; vulnerable and self-absorbed, is often observed as a foreshortened scape in which peculiar details have been carefully depicted; the asymmetry of a pair of ears, the angle one toe makes with its neighbour, the pull of flesh between finger and thumb, the sideways fall of a breast under its own particular weight.
The landscapes are a direct response to the light and weather conditions on the varied upland terrain of the three south-western counties of Wales. The viewpoints adopted are those of any birdwatcher, either low down at bracken level for camouflage, or at the edge of raised ground to give an overview. A land of tumuli and stone circles; crossed by deeply rutted tracks and barbed wire.

Location: Wales
Website: www.glennart.co.uk

Artisan 5

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:04:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Tim Haycock
Description: Tim's inherited artistic talent has developed and his work has been exhibited throughout West Wales. He is also a talented carpenter and joiner designing and manufacturing traditional Danish painted furniture.

Profile: Tim was born in Royal Leamington Spa on the 28th. November 1959. His mother is Danish and his father was a British Regular Army Officer.
After his father's retirement from the Army the family settled in Denmark and here Tim completed his formal education and later completed two years at the Art Academy in Odense, Denmark.
Shortly after this he completed a three year apprenticeship as a bench joiner. In 1983 he moved to England where he worked in the building industry and in 1987 moved to Wales. Here, together with his parents, he began designing and manufacturing furniture based on an old traditional Danish folk style. His inherited artistic talent has developed and his work has been exhibited throughout West Wales. He is also a talented carpenter and joiner designing and manufacturing traditional Danish painted furniture.
Tim now enjoys working from the studio "Rosa Danica", where he is studying the method in which his great-grandfather restored the frieze at Thorvaldsen's Museum, (Sgrafito) in Copenhagen.

Location: Wales
Website: www.rosadanica.co.uk

Artisan 4

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Marianne Thune Haycock
Description: Marianne is a Danish artist who paints the Wales she loves. She has a diploma and post diploma in fine art.

Profile: Marianne Thune Haycock was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, but lived most of her earlier life in the countryside near Svendborg where her father was a doctor.
She married a British Army Officer and travelled a lot and started to paint when she was in Malaysia. Here she had tuition by the Malay portrait painter Mohamed Hussein. On return to Denmark where she and her family settled for the next fourteen years, she studied at the Art Academy in Odense.
She had many successful exhibitions both in her own studio and local venues in the Svendborg area.
In 1981 she moved to England and studied at the Mid-Warwickshire College of Further Education where she was awarded a diploma and later a post diploma in Fine Art.
In 1987, Marianne returned to the Wales she fell in love with in 1952 and is now enjoying painting the beauty she finds here. She loves in particular, seascapes and landscapes. She is a member of the Carmarthen Town Guild of Artists.
Marianne works from her studio next to her house. Here she can relax and paint both from memory, sketches and also photographs. Although she has changed her style over the years you can still follow her love for nature and mankind. She loves portraits.
She has three roots; Denmark, the Far East and now Wales. All three are described in her paintings. Her paintings have been sold in Denmark, Sweden, England, Wales, Germany and USA.
Marianne undertakes commissions.

Location: Wales
Website: www.rosadanica.co.uk

Artisan 3

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:57:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Martin Crampin
Description: Digital prints based on ancient and medieval visual traditions, interpreting the mythology, literature, landscape and archaeology of the British Isles.

Profile: As an artist working in digital imaging and installation, I create images based on the visual traditions of ancient and medieval Wales.
While making use of new technologies, the images retain a crucial interface with more traditional forms of mark-making and photography as source material for composite layered images. This engagement with digital imaging has been untypically matched by my interest in medieval narrative and visual traditions, cultural identity and historical process, which has formed the basis of much of my research and practice.
Graduating in Interactive Arts from Newport School of Art and Design in 1995, I worked as an artist in residence before completing an MA in Celto-Roman Studies in 1998. Subsequently I have taught digital imaging and worked as a multimedia designer, including working for five years at the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies in Aberystwyth on the award winning CD-ROMs in the Visual Culture of Wales series.

Location: Wales
Website: www.martincrampin.co.uk

Artisan 2

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:51:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Harriet Challis-Jones
Description: Trained as a jeweller, she produces a range of artwork from her rural home on Anglesey; from jewellery to mazes to portraits and landscapes.

Profile: Harriet trained at Wrexham's College of Art and Design, specialising in Jewellery. She worked for four years for Clogau Gold of Wales, in their design development team, producing mainly Celtic inspired jewellery including Welsh gold.
Her work ranges from jewellery to maize mazes of about eight acres, from portraits of people and animals to landscapes; trying to capture the atmosphere of Anglesey's seas and skies.
Harriet lives with her husband, younger daughter, a pony, a dog, a cat and a rabbit in a remote cottage on Anglesey. She grew up in an equally remote farmhouse in Berkshire, England, where she loved to draw the plants and animals around her home. With Scottish Father and Welsh Mother, she feels a strong connection to her Celtic heritage, as she continues Celtic traditions of working beauty and mystery into art and jewellery.
Anglesey attracts many artists. Its beauty and heritage provide most of my inspiration. There's a fascinating range of wildlife, open beaches and rocky bays constantly changing with the moods of the tides, as well as ancient sites dating back five thousand years and chapels and rural dwellings dating back hundreds of years to remind us of man's occupation and worshipping through the ages. Once a stronghold of the Druids against the Romans, Anglesey's magic isn't hard to feel.
I love making pieces that will be treasured and am very happy to take on commissions or make slightly different versions of the work on this site.

Location: Wales

Artisan 1

Celtic 21 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:53:00 GMT

Artisan Name: Sonja Benskin Mesher
Description: Sonja Benskin Mesher, abstract and landscape painter, living and working in Wales.
Contemporary work, reflecting the atmosphere and memory of the Celtic lands.

Profile: I have worked full time as a visual artist since finishing an Art & Design course in 1999. My home and studio is in the Snowdonia National park, North Wales. I draw my inspiration from this place, and early years living in St Ives.
I use a dialogue of shape and colour to create ideas about the landscape and inherent memory.
These paintings, a diary of the shoreline, are all originals.
Using acrylic mediums as a base, I incorporate found media, such as wool from the fences, rust, earth etc to create texture and a sense of place.
My paintings on box canvas are ready to hang without framing. Work on paper, is mounted, ready for you to frame. Paintings on panel have no mount, but are ready for framing.
The work has been in solo exhibitions throughout Wales, England and Ireland, and in selected shows in the UK, America, Ireland, Canada & France. I show regularly in London galleries.
Much of the work is now in both private, and public collections, and has been featured in several television documentaries, radio programmes and magazines.
Early design work received an award from BAA and the Sunday Times, and since then more prizes have been awarded for landscape painting, drawing, and abstract images.

Location: Wales
Website: www.sonja-benskin-mesher.com