Rebecca Oldfield

MEET THE MAKER

Hi I’m Rebecca and I am a jeweller, designer and silversmith based in Cardiff, South Wales. Where I now work from The Creative Coach House Cardiff – a communal studio space set up by myself in 2021. I began making aged 16 by piecing together items of beaded jewellery which I continued doing whilst organising local craft fairs – before I moved to London to study jewellery and silversmithing at Kensington and Chelsea College. From college I moved back to Cardiff to study multidisciplinary arts at Cardiff School of Art and Design – here I was introduced to woodworking and 3D software’s such as CAD. After graduating I took a 2-year residency at Bishopsland Educational Trust where I feel I truly flourished and homed in on my skills as a silversmith. I chose metalworking as I have always been interested in ancient artifacts and hoards. From a young age I would often dream that one day I would miraculously unearth something beautiful and shiny from the past. Now, I often dream about one of my own pieces being dug up, admired, questioned, and ending up in a future museum listed as an ancient artefact! I create functional and uniquely decorative items of silverware ranging from spoons, boxes, and wall pieces – which all generally feature a large display London Assay Office hallmark as a decorative element – using traditional techniques that date back thousands of years. In addition to silverware I also create items of jewellery, both ready to buy and to commission – I take real pleasure making objects to commission not only because each one generates excitement and a new challenge for me but because every person is individual, with their own style, preferences and palate – by involving my clients in the design process I am able to create sentimental pieces which enhance each client’s individuality – using precious materials such as silver, gold, diamonds, and coloured gemstones often repurposing heir- loomed components. My most recent works are predominantly inspired by a process of material exploration and experimentation whilst considering notions, styles and objects from the past. More recently I have been examining the beautiful patterns and structures found within microscopic imagery and exploring how to incorporate these hidden details into my work.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEEDBACKS?

I have learnt a great deal on this programme over the past 4 months, from writing, speaking with confidence, planning, costing, pricing, setting measurable goals and many more. It was a great opportunity to be a part of this programme with such a wonderful group of craftspeople – where we could speak openly about our businesses and give advice and feedback regularly to one another. Throughout the course I have seen myself developed immensly and feel that my business structure is strong – knowing what I need to do, how to do it and by when. Upon completing Crafting Business I have produced an up to date business plan, set out clear goals, organised my time and my finances and have developed a new jewellery range which I will be sharing soon.

FIVE THINGS YOU’LL BRING WITH YOU FROM THE EXPERIENCE:

• Use a diary – Get organised, plan your schedule, plan your next product release and break down your big tasks into smaller manageable jobs
• Work on your confidence – with yourself, your work and speaking publicly (whether that be explaining what it is you do to others or in front of a camera for a live audience
• Take time to work on your marketing strategies – the world around us is constantly evolving and changing and our businesses should adapt to these
• Don’t undersell yourself – work out accurate pricing (including your hourly wage and outgoings) and conduct market research
• Keep your artist bio up to date and celebrate your achievements!