Siân Elizabeth Evans

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“Marrying knowledge from a traditional apprenticeship in a forge with a love of natural history, Siân produces exquisite oxidised pieces of copperwork. Her mirrors, bowls, boxes and vases are narrated by fine metal appliqué and punctuated by set gemstones and rivets.

Here contemporary elegance meets traditional values and craftsmanship.This is the unmistakable touch of a woman’s hand.”

During the 1990s I undertook a traditional apprenticeship to one of the last coppersmiths in the country, Sam Fanaroff. Over those four years I was taught antique restoration, ecclesiastical commissions and one-off pieces in copper for the high-end crafts market.
In 2004, after a decade devoted to raising my four children largely alone, I returned to the craft I so loved, thanks to a scholarship from the QEST. I enrolled at London Metropolitan University to be taught by Jerwood prizewinner Simone ten Hompel, graduating with an MA by Project (Metal) in 2005.

The following year I completed a New Entrepreneur Scholarship and began “Coppersmithing by Siân” in early 2007. I now create (entirely by hand) unique bowls, mirrors, boxes and vases. Some of these are commissions, whilst others are creations of my own - sold to the customer at exhibitions or via my website. In December 2010 I appeared in Channel 4’s “Kirstie’s Homemade Home” which brought my work to the attention of a much wider audience.

2012 is set to be a particularly exciting year as I have just completed my Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship, studying coppersmithing in France, Greece and India over the past eight months. I have been given the opportunity to learn new techniques from master craftsmen overseas, discover the historical relevance of copper - and forge some new friendships along the way. My full report can be viewed on the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship website at: www.wcmt.org.uk/reports/897_1.pdf