Maker Directory

The idea behind Beads By Alison is to create bespoke & unique pieces of jewellery that work with your style.

My designs are inspired by the colours & shapes of the antique, semi-precious and glass beads I like to work with, I’m particularily fascinated with the way in which the light causes the suspended beads to glow. Each piece is handmade & designed by me with a little help/hinderance from my assistant Fat Cat Peaches.

Every design is unique, I also offer a custom service making pieces which fit exactly to your needs whatever they may be.

Though primarily a metalworker (cast iron, forged steel, copper…) recent work development has resulted me to working with porcelain – a return to ceramics. My training has spanned across the ‘Craft’ and ‘Art’ disciplines, as does my work. Experimentation is key to the development of my work, which is inspired by the livestock & plant life found in my natural environment ~ particularly the tiny details; the curl of a new shoot; the structure of a seedpod; the hipbones of a dairy cow. My concerns over intensive farming and human impact on the environment also influence what I do.

I spent many years formally studying and exploring ceramics, but the moment I started experimenting with wool, I was hooked. It’s a lovely natural material to work with and I’m particularly drawn to its textural and sculptural qualities. Working from my North Devon studio I mainly use a process called needle felting (also known as […]

Bethan works from her pottery studio in the beautiful Mid-Devon countryside, UK. Previously, she studied under the renowned ceramicist Lisa Hammond MBE at Kigbeare Studios & Gallery, following her graduation in Contemporary Ceramic Practice (BA) Hons. During this period Bethan gained a real insight and appreciation of working in a busy studio pottery and the […]

Working in porcelain I strive to create simple and tactile forms. Drawing and mark making is an essential step in my making process and I constantly strive to recreate decorative techniques from paper and into a ceramic palette.

I use decorative techniques that are only partly controllable, studying the use of alternative tools for decoration. Using cotton as a tool, the decoration can only ever be guided, meaning that each twist of the thread will create an entirely unique pattern onto paper and clay. Using these delicate methods of decoration I create unique, tactile objects that entice the viewer to explore further and to interact with ceramic objects.

I am currently developing a range that uses imagery from the landscape that surrounds me, be it the 15th & 16th Century buildings, the local park or even the coastline.

Textiles, colour and pattern are my passions. I design and make a range of cushions and home accessories inspired by a childhood spent rock pooling, collecting shells on the sandy beaches of West Wales, walking through enchanted woods of bluebells and growing flowers and veg in the garden alongside my parents. As such, nature in its infinite variety features heavily in my work.

Over the years I’ve amassed a fine collection of buttons, ribbons and vintage fabrics that have found a home in my craftwork alongside liberty prints and more recent fabric finds. I use various techniques including appliqué, machine and hand embroidery to conjure up magic and character in my colourful creations.

My work is inspired by stories, poems, over-hearings and memories. Re-using materials, especially textiles, is an integral part of my work. I like to feel that they have ‘lived a little’ with their own story to tell showing signs of ageing and how they have been treated or, perhaps, mistreated. Every discarded object is a […]

Hand built porcelain landscapes and figures influenced by the environment, personal events and the nature of porcelain itself. Shapes and forms of interest found in miniature landscapes, architecture, the circus and 17th Century British pottery are reinterpreted and combined in the clay to form a unique and distinctive style.

Imagery and themes are reworked and revisited but no piece is repeated. The last piece informs the next and has evolved as a continuous visual diary now spanning 11 years. Each element or symbol has a personal history or a meaning and my maker’s mark, in the shape of a key, can be found somewhere on each piece. The work is entirely hand built from porcelain, decorated with on glaze enamels, slips, lustres and more recently rare vintage lithographs.

A qualified Silversmith, I live and work in North Wales and I use my skills and surroundings to create fun, modern custom jewellery just for you.
Whether it be from your children’s precious drawings to bespoke designs, you can expect the highest quality and workmanship.

I make a range of Contemporary Silver Jewellery, including bangles, necklaces and earrings. From my Danish roots I am influenced by Scandinavian Design; my pieces are simple, contemporary in design, timeless and accessible to wear.

I like to produce contrasts in my work, whether by texturing, oxidising or milling the Silver. I particularly enjoy shaping the metal by forging and planishing and many of my pieces involve these techniques. I also include interesting semi-precious stones in my designs and highlights of gold. My full collection and examples of commissions can be seen on my website.

I learnt the art of Silver Jewellery making through various evening classes and City & Guild Courses. I am a member of Cambridge Open Studios and participate in July each year. Commissions welcome and my Studio can be visited throughout the year by appointment.