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Gillian Ashwell
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Beadwork Jewellery
Maker
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Gillian has had an interest in
beads and beadwork since she was a small child; an interest kindled by
hours spent playing with her grandmother's workbox of buttons, broken
necklaces and loose beads, and has now been working with beads for almost
forty years.
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She is trained in fine arts, but
her passion for beads and beadwork both predates and succeeds this. In
her work she applies tiny seed beads one at a time in intricate designs and
patterns, using nothing but needles and thread - occasionally wire - and beads,
employing traditional bead threading and weaving techniques that have been
handed down through countless generations of myriad cultures throughout the
world.
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Gillian is constantly exploring
the possibilities of working with beads, adapting and experimenting with
techniques to create various styles, colours and designs. Beads placed in
close juxtaposition are employed in an almost painterly way, mixing and
blending the colours as an artist would within a painting, but with sometimes an
added third dimension and always with the inherent addition of the play of
light. A piece of beadwork sparkles, and light and the colours of the
beads reflect off each-other and can sometimes affect the colouration. If the
beads are transparent, the shade of the thread will alter them subtly
too, as it is seen through the bead.
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She often works to commission -
an aspect of her work that she really enjoys - creating a bespoke piece for a
client to wear on a special occasion that will complement and enhance their
outfit as well as fitting perfectly. She also carries out repairs and
rethreading. She has exhibited over the years
at various venues throughout the county, including Bromham Mill Gallery,
Bromham Library, Putnoe Library, Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre and
Bedford River Festival.
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For twenty years now Gillian has
been passing on the skills of bead threading and weaving through her
courses, workshops and residential weekends. These are held at adult
education centres and other venues throughout Bedfordshire, across
the border into Northamptonshire and sometimes further afield. She
will arrange tailor-made classes and workshops as a general introduction to
beadwork or to explore specific techniques onrequest, and occasionally gives
presentations on beads, their origins, history, uses, types and the
techniques used in beadwork jewellery to interested groups.
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She is a member of The Bead
Society of Great Britain, The Beadworkers Guild and The Bead Study Trust.
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Telephone: 01234 211532
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Facsimile: 01234 353777
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