I came to silversmithing from jewellery design, and found the process of manipulating metal into forms with essentially just a hammer and a steel stake to be fascinating. Each hammer blow changes the form of what seems to be an immoveable piece of metal, and as the piece grows into the desired form, so does my sense of excitement and anticipation at seeing the finished article. Whilst each piece is designed on paper at first, I do make changes along the way, altering proportions and sizes.

Each piece is hand raised from either silver, gilding metal or copper - metals used for their malleability, their colour and their ability to change that colour either through applied chemicals or from the weathering of time.

I etch the exterior, as an invitation to the viewer to touch and hold the piece. I aim to create a sense of tactility, to establish a connection between metal and ceramic, giving metal the impression of the warmth of clay and its more relaxed form. Further marks are etched into the metal, and inlaid or coloured to contrast with the main body of the piece.

The inspiration for the vessels, comes from my homeland, from South Africa, her colours, her landscapes and textures and the crafts used by her people.

The shapes reference functional traditional storage vessels, gourds and drinking or eating receptacles. The marks symbolise the town and surrounding area of my childhood, and the people who live there still. No piece has s specific function.