ARTIST OF THE MONTH: INTERVIEW WITH SHELLEY THOMAS

Written by Shelley Thomas

Thursday, 01 January 2009 00:00

Shelley Thomas

Shelley Thomas works with metal, designing and making almost anything in iron.
From beds to balconies - gates to gazebos. Shelley specializes in ironwork for restaurants and bars and in beautiful bespoke beds.
She also produces architectural work for private individuals and businesses and has been involved in local community projects creating unique public art.
Yareah is honoured this month showing her fantastic works and knowing a little more of her and her hard artistic job.

- Why iron? Isn't it a material too difficult to work? (I am thinking of less hard
materials like clay or wood). Blacksmiths have been around since the iron age! It is
difficult to work but, like any skill, the more you practice, the better you get. Steel is very forgiving and I have learnt to either correct my mistakes or enjoy them.

- What is your daily routine like? Can you describe us one of your ordinary working days? I start at about 7am... coffee and usually have several pieces of work on the go...a bed, a staircase for a restaurant...a necklace. There are other smiths working in my forge, sometimes working on their own projects; sometimes on mine. I may work with the furnace, anvil and hammer or with the oxy/acetylene torch. We, the smiths, stop and share a fruit salad lunch with the other artists in the community. I love the discussions and friendships there. I am usually very tired and dirty at the end of the day. I will
swim to relax and get clean on my way home!!

- What is your studio like? My forge is in Kew Bridge Steam Museum. It is about 150 years old… lots of ancient tools hanging on the wools: it is wonderful, very
atmospheric, dark and dirty.

- Which are the main tools to work iron? Coal and gas furnaces, hammers. hand and power, anvil flame torches, welders, angle grinders, sanders/files. The metal is worked hot, so big gauntlets. Silver and gold are worked cold. We use the same techniques, but different temperatures. I do some work combining iron, gold and semi-precious stones.

- How about price? Is an iron work accessible for a middle-classed person? An average bed is £4000…, most of my customers save for their piece...a few are rich!!

- Where do you show your pieces? Are current fairs, contests, galleries and museums good ways to spread art now days? I show at Fire and Iron Gallery in the UK (the best!!!) check their website. I show annually at EROTICA in London 22nd Nov and I do the occasional craft fair. I have had a website for about 8 years and I am finally getting sales from it. Most of my sales are by word of mouth. I have been making for 20 years now.

- Some favourite artists? Why? Painters.......abstract expressionist (mostly USA)......3D... Jujol... Chillida... Miro...Gaudi...Picasso(WOW...just realised they are all Spanish) I also really enjoy 'outsider art' I subscribe to the magazine 'Raw Vision'... It is magic and exciting.

- A favourite legend or tale? The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde.

- A wish for next year? I get the funding to give me time to work on my new project... and that Barak Obama is true to his word and makes some big fruitful changes.

- And for next century? World Peace and “Sagrada Familia” gets finished!!!

GoToShelleyThomas'Gallery

BIOGRAPHY