MEET THE MAKER
The distinctive marine themed metalworks of Sharon McSwiney have become something of a fixture amongst Cornwall’s maker community. The colours, textures and styles draw from the mineral rich coast of her home base in St Ives and now, with a brand new gallery space having recently opened on Island Square, Sharon is exploring her love of capturing the coast in innovative ways more than ever before. “Texture, pattern and colour are my passion. I am drawn to distressed surfaces and like to explore different techniques of applying textures and patina to metal. I enjoy the immediacy of working with metal, that you are able to create effects quickly on the surface with tools and heat.” Sharon McSwiney has been designing and creation metalwork art and jewellery for over 30 years. Before her move to Cornwall in 2013, Sharon’s work was still very much inspired by nature, but instead of the coastal and marine life, it was the countryside with leaves and birds. When she relocated with her husband Tim, her new and inspiring surroundings swiftly started to reflect in her work and since then, Sharon has become a recognisable maker in galleries across Cornwall. “I have a very hands-on approach to making pieces and they often evolve as I make them,” explains Sharon. “It’s very satisfying to change a piece of metal from a pristine, shiny surface to a unique, patinated piece…I like to combine n 62 |
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copper and brass for contrasting colour variations and am inspired by the everchanging colours in St Ives and the pieces I find when beachcombing.” Sharon spends much of her free time combing the beaches of St Ives for inspiration and limpet shells; cockles and mussels make for stunning sea worn creations. Crabs, seahorses play a prominent role in her work, with plans to introduce lobsters and squid in the future. At Marazion, the rich underwater fields of seaweed are a hotspot for collections, where Sharon usually picks up a fair few limpet shell too. “I enjoy making such a variety of pieces, which means I never get bored. After 30 years of making, I still enjoy what I do on a daily basis. I always have new ideas bubbling under the surface, but the difficulty is finding the time to develop them all. Recently, I recreated some sea urchin fragments I found on Porthmeor beach.” With an online store and local
| Volume 2 Issue 66 | June - July 2021
exhibitions to plan, Sharon is also a member of two co-operative galleries, Back Road Artworks in St Ives and The Guild of Ten at Truro. Her latest venture is her own, brand-new gallery, recently opened following her move from a previous space at St Ives’ Drill Hall after eight years. The gallery space, on Island Square, not only houses Sharon’s own metalwork, jewellery and artwork, but also a selection of work from makers such as Emily Stracey, Jill Parteger, Roy Dutton and Driftwood Clay birds. With the early summer season starting, it’s the perfect time to see Sharon’s latest creations in a bright and airy new space. l You can view Sharon’s work online at www.sharonmcswiney.co.uk Sharon McSwiney Gallery on the Square 12 Island Square St Ives TR26 1NX
