“Stunning creations made from recycled materials.”
Re-purposed, re-imagined
Jewellery and objects made by award winning eco-artist, jeweller - Alison Bailey Smith, based in Wellington Road Studios, unit 2, 28a Wellington Road, Birkenhead, CH43 2JE
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My work is definitely a by-product of the 21st century & I have been described as a 'techno -cannibal' by BBC journalist Clare English. My career has spanned 3 decades and three different countries since leaving Edinburgh College of Art in 1990. The motivation behind my work comes from being the child of post war parents, Scottish thriftiness and an avid watcher of Blue Peter! My need to re-use, re-develop and re-create can be seen in my use of ordinary materials in my creations.
Although my training was initially in jewellery and silver-smithing, I have crossed over successfully into the world of textiles, costume and fashion (I have won several awards including Scottish Fashion Designer of the Year, Recycling Fashion Designer of the Year and various awards for Fibre in North America and Australasia).
A staple ingredient in my work is wire that I reclaim from old televisions, the older the better. I've found over a hundred different colours and hues of copper and aluminium wire. It takes me about an hour to gut a television salvaging all that I can use and about 3 days to re-create it into a hat. The first hat took me months to do and is now in the National Museums of Scotland Collection (they also have my first pair of shoes and a hatpin). Lately though, due to the rate of development in technology, I've found it harder to find the old television sets and have had to resort to buying various colours of wire! There is always a high component of re-used materials in my work - whether it is re-using charity shop finds or sweetie wrappers to get the right colour. I have become increasingly aware of how wasteful our society is becoming.
My pieces are in museum collections & private collections around the world. My work ranges from small earrings to large sculptures and I am more than happy to work to create a commission especially for you. Please feel free to request any work from my images on social media, I can let you know if they are available or if I have anything similar.
Alison Bailey Smith
BA Hons Jewellery, Dip Des www.abscraft.com
Wellington Road Studios in Oxton, Birkenhead
Reviewed by Jenny
Very pleased to have found this maker. The necklace was just as gorgeous in real life as in the photos. Also comes with information about the use of recycled materials.
Reviewed by JaneP
An outstanding piece of jewellery both in its design - fabulous mix of colours - and its technical construction. It came with a card explaining where its components had been salvaged from so I can tell people when they admire it, which they surely will. The artist calls herself a Techno Cannibal which seems very apt, given her use of old tv parts. Delivery was impressively fast and I'm already pondering which of her other designs I'll buy next.
Reviewed by Alan
Alison's work is just so exquisite, this is the third piece I've purchased and as always, brilliant communication and lovely to share her work. Great maker!
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