Liz Hancock

Further Information - Personal Statement

I work mainly in silver and like contrasting textures and metals so I use 18 carat gold and 22 carat gold plate as well as a variety of textured and plain pieces of silver to achieve the effect I want. I also use gemstones such as tourmalines, sapphires, topaz, citrines, peridots, aquamarines, jadeite, turquoise, lapis lazuli, opals, zircons, kunzite and quartz.

Generally I like jewellery to be three dimensional and fairly bold and I enjoy the idea of containment, whether it is of another metal or colour, a different texture or shape, or just space.

My ideas usually begin with something I see around me but will be interpreted in different ways through my enjoyment of the technical side of jewellery making.

I use many different techniques: stamps and hammering, texturing in a rolling mill, etching, press forming, reticulation, inlay, and fusing with 24 carat gold foil (keum bo). My jewellery is left fairly matt, with small areas polished for contrast, and to achieve the desired finish I use wet and dry papers, various texturing pendant drill accessories, barrel polishing, burnishing or oxidising.

My studio is based at the Farnham Maltings, Surrey in the South East of England. I did a three year jewellery training course at South Thames College in London and have since exhibited at the following venues:

Battersea Arts Centre; Farnham Maltings Festival of Craft; West Sussex Visual Arts Group; Dulwich Craft Fair in Wimbledon; South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell,Berkshire; Crafts in Focus in Twickenham, Guildford, Richmond and Henley; The Brighton Craft Fair; and Toast at Fulham Palace, London.

I have had my work in The Verandah Gallery in Oxford, Tom Foolery in London, the Atelier 71 Gallery in Fareham and The New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham, Surrey. I also took part in the Surrey Open Studios, organised by Surrey County Arts, part of Surrey County Council. I am also listed in the on-line Artists in Waverley Directory (Waverley County Council).

I am happy to take commissions.