Esther Smith

Based in Cornwall, Esther takes inspiration from her beautiful natural surroundings and the goings on of coast and country. Her upbringing on the north coast of Scotland also has a strong influence on her work. She trained in jewellery and silversmithing at Birmingham’s School of Jewellery, taking the leap from jewellery to automata making in 2014. She was inspired by wonderful automata makers in the Falmouth area. Copper, silver, and brass are the main metals she works with but also uses enamel, reclaimed tin and reclaimed or coppiced Cornish wood. She treats the metal with patination and oxidisation techniques to achieve turquoises, rich browns, reds, and blacks.  Leaf metal applications and varnishes seal and add lustre. Each piece is crafted by hand so each piece is entirely unique.