Sheron King Designer-maker and lover of colour, texture and ephemera!
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lthough I was unable to talk to Sheron in her Newnham home due to Covid restrictions, from the glimpses I could make out on my computer screen, it was obvious her studio is jam-packed full of objects - a selfconfessed ‘collector’, this creative lady is obviously not keen on throwing things away! Surrounded by a veritable cornucopia of textiles, china, books, ribbons, beads, papers and buttons etc. Sheron explained that she had arrived at the creative designing and making point of her life via a somewhat surprising series of twists and turns. Originally from Wiltshire and then Cornwall, Sheron initially came to Plymouth to study bakery and confectionery with advanced cake design and decoration at Plymouth City College. ‘Then randomly I went into nursing training,’ said Sheron. ‘I worked as a nurse for a year. I put my heart and soul into what I do, but I knew nursing wasn’t me - I have this desire to be creative, I think that’s probably why I went into confectionery.’ The arrival of children curtailed the nursing career and while her children were young, she completed an
A level in textiles, finding the work inspiring and fulfilling. Creating with textiles, mixed media and later other media such as ceramics made her buzz. Then came a pivotal moment her marriage broke up and suddenly, with two young children, she had to become financially independent. She started running workshops in the community for a variety of projects and schools, eventually working for Cornwall College, teaching low level art and design to students with a range of special needs. She completed a teaching qualification by studying part-time, which fuelled a desire to take her learning experience up a notch, as she completed a degree in 3D Design at Plymouth University. ‘It was a great experience and very interesting going back to full time study,’ said Sheron. Degree completed, with encouragement from one of her lecturers and much appreciated financial support from her parents, she also completed a Masters in Contemporary Design. Sheron said she was ‘really, really chuffed’ to have studied successfully to such a high degree and that it helped her put a very traumatic time in her life behind her while building her confidence and self-esteem. While she would dearly love to make a full-time living out of art, design and making, for the moment, Sheron works part time for a local MP and also as a partner with a network marketing company. However, she has converted the dining room of her Grade II Listed home into a studio, where she works and facilitates workshops. Sheron, whose business is called Mad Hatters Studio, admitted she gets called a hoarder: ‘Actually, I quite
I put a heavy focus on re-use, “ sustainability and up-cycling, because I am passionate about helping improve our environment
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