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Sarah Warden-Smith at Bezeal (Cardiff) is part of a growing band of artists using precious metal clay - a wonderful new material - to create stunning crafts and jewellery. If you have not heard of metal clay before you probably soon will as it is being used ever more widely.

Using a precious new medium

Sarah started using silver metal clay 4 years ago to create personalised silver fingerprint jewellery. However once she realised the creative possibilities of the material it became a means of expressing her artistic talent. She now creates a range of beautiful jewellery using silver metal clay. To further her knowledge of metal clay, Sarah studied at the prestigious Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery, and having achieved their Diploma in Metal Clay is now working towards the Higher Diploma. Sarah is also a qualified Art Clay Instructor.

Originating in Japan

Metal clay consists of very small particles of metal such as silver, gold or copper mixed with an organic binder and water. It is commonly used to make jewellery, beads and small sculptures. Originating in Japan in 1990, metal clay can be shaped like any soft clay by hand or using moulds. After drying, the clay can be fired with a handheld gas torch, on a gas stove or with a kiln. The organic binder burns away, leaving the pure sintered metal resulting in shrinkage of between 8% and 30% (depending on the product used). The material is incredibly versatile enabling complex pieces to be made quickly and easily.

Why not join one of Bezeal Jewellery Courses?

Bezeal now run jewellery making courses in silver metal clay, including Beginners/Taster courses, Next Steps courses, as well as Project Days for Beads, Rings, Silver Fingerprint Jewellery and Artworks in Silver.

For beginners

The Beginners/Taster courses are around 3.5 hours long and are aimed at those with no previous knowledge or some experience. We teach you all the basics, the do’s and don’ts of using silver metal clay, and tips and tricks to get the most out of this wonderful material. You will learn methods for texturing and cutting clay as well as finishing/polishing and how to add dimension to your work. At the end of the session you will have created 2 pieces of jewellery you can wear and will have the knowledge and confidence to go home and create your own pieces.

For the more experienced

Silver fingerprint courses run from 10am to 5pm, and teach you what you need to know to produce silver fingerprint jewellery to a high standard. Many people do this course to create unique gifts for their own family, others as a stepping stone to starting their own business.

Creating your own original pieces

The Artworks in Silver course enables you to take a hand or footprint, an original drawing or even a high contrast photograph, manipulate it on a computer and use it to create a photopolymer stamp that you can then impress into silver clay to produce jewellery with that image impressed in to it.

Learn other crafts

Other courses are also available, including Wire Work and Crochet in Silver, full details are available at www.bezeal.co.uk/bezeal-jewellery-courses.