Meet the artist; Sophie Piddock
What is your background?
I've always been a 'crafty' person, having studied art at school, two colleges then on to a Fine Art degree at university in Liverpool.
Where are you based?
At present I am based at my kitchen table but am soon to move into a friends studio space in Chewton Mendip at the old cheese dairy.
When and how did you get started in your art/craft?
After having my daughter I decided to do a part time college course to give myself a bit of time to be me again. Radstock college was offering Silversmithing at Bath Spa's Newton St Loe campus. After 3 consecutive years of short courses (20 weeks) I ventured into craft fairs and events with some other people from the course. I now mainly work towards particular events and commissions.
What inspires you?
Everything. What I have seen/heard/talked about. I tend to work out of my head on non-commission pieces and see where something ends up. I just take an idea and see what happens. I think we are all inspired by everything as it surrounds us every day.
What are your aspirations as an Artist in the coming months/years?
My youngest son goes to primary school in September so my main aim is to get my studio space up and running so I can concentrate on creating work. I hope one day to have my silver pieces in shops and exhibitions. My ideal dream would be to set up a creative hub to run art workshops from and provide a space for people to use.
What is you most memorable peice of work and why?
A silver band. The first plain silver band I made in my first year at college. I had chosen to use square wire instead of D cut or round. It took a lot of sanding and polishing and ended up rather rectangular in wire shape but you can't see the join. I was so proud of myself.
What hints and tips would you give fellow Artists?
Always make sure wherever you are working is comfortable and you have everything you need within easy reach.
"Let's make a feature out of it" is something my A-level Ceramics teacher would say to us. If something goes wrong go with it. Nobody knows what your finished piece will look like, maybe not even you, so does it matter if it doesn't turn out exactly as you thought it should.
I've always been a 'crafty' person, having studied art at school, two colleges then on to a Fine Art degree at university in Liverpool.
Where are you based?
At present I am based at my kitchen table but am soon to move into a friends studio space in Chewton Mendip at the old cheese dairy.
When and how did you get started in your art/craft?
After having my daughter I decided to do a part time college course to give myself a bit of time to be me again. Radstock college was offering Silversmithing at Bath Spa's Newton St Loe campus. After 3 consecutive years of short courses (20 weeks) I ventured into craft fairs and events with some other people from the course. I now mainly work towards particular events and commissions.
What inspires you?
Everything. What I have seen/heard/talked about. I tend to work out of my head on non-commission pieces and see where something ends up. I just take an idea and see what happens. I think we are all inspired by everything as it surrounds us every day.
What are your aspirations as an Artist in the coming months/years?
My youngest son goes to primary school in September so my main aim is to get my studio space up and running so I can concentrate on creating work. I hope one day to have my silver pieces in shops and exhibitions. My ideal dream would be to set up a creative hub to run art workshops from and provide a space for people to use.
What is you most memorable peice of work and why?
A silver band. The first plain silver band I made in my first year at college. I had chosen to use square wire instead of D cut or round. It took a lot of sanding and polishing and ended up rather rectangular in wire shape but you can't see the join. I was so proud of myself.
What hints and tips would you give fellow Artists?
Always make sure wherever you are working is comfortable and you have everything you need within easy reach.
"Let's make a feature out of it" is something my A-level Ceramics teacher would say to us. If something goes wrong go with it. Nobody knows what your finished piece will look like, maybe not even you, so does it matter if it doesn't turn out exactly as you thought it should.