I was invited this week to teach with the Danish Guild of Enamellers.
I few from Manchester to Copenhegan which was remarkably easy. The flight took less than two hours, quicker for me than a trip to London !
On landing in Copenhegan I was greeted by Tom Lundsten, the Guild organiser, and I was treated to a tour of the city, taking in sights that I have only ever seen from tourist books. Here the national statue "The Little Mermaid", which is indeed, quite little! and the tourist row of cafe's on the harbour are very typical scenes.

To get to the workshop venue, travelling from Copenhegan, we then had to travel along the second longest bridge in the world ! The bridge links one of the several islands that form Denmark. From the begining of the bridge, to the finish, the end seems quite out of sight!

The weekend was generously hosted by the Danish metal & tool supply comany called Ravestedhus, which is based in the small country village of Ravested. Their range of facilites are very enviable and well worth the three hour journey from the city.

The meeting hosted around twenty enamellers and four demonstrations took place during the three day event. Namely, screen printing by one of the group members / computerised cutting on a very cute table top milling machine by Tom / Champleve Cutting by Phill Barnes / and my task was to demonstrate Cloisonne techniques.

It was a pleasure and a privalage to share in such an event and everyone I met was so lovely and very welcoming. 

The highlight of the weekend was also being able to visit and stay with leading Danish enameller Louise Birn, who has a superb gallery and workshop in the centre of Copenhegan. Louise stocks not only her own stunning designs but also represents the work of around eighteen other international designer-makers and should be a definate stopping off point if you ever get the chance to stay in Copenhegan.

So back now, a bit tired but very inspired ! ...thought I'd sign off with this amazing sunset, photographed from the door of the Ravstedhus workshop...

Catching up on recent travels. Over the bank holiday we went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield. Both venues are amazing and well worth the visit.

At the Hepworth in Wakefield it was interesting to observe the changes in scale. There on exhibition in the splendid gallery spaces, are also her models and working maquets.

I partulary loved this display of black and white marble shapes. Its funny when you see an idea come together, isn't it.... Have you ever had the experiance so seeing something then recognising the elements in your own work ?  I must be subliminally influenced and I've never seen these before !

With the Shore Jewel series that I'm working on, I am developing the idea of adding small containers to the range. The image below is a photo I took last year of my collection of pebbles with the silver shapes that I'm developing.....spooky.

The bright shape, just off centre, is silver and the rest of the shapes are my collected pebbles. The panel at the back is a piece by my freind, the Finish enameller Ulla Huttunen. My wish is to make enamels of these forms and make them into small boxes for jewels that will compliment. Seeing the Hepworth marbles makes me realise how this could become possible......