Tracy Furlong and Martin Hopton are two professional jewellery makers committed to transporting their art and skills from London's urban setting to rural Hertfordshire. Last year they took over a barn in Beaumont Hall Farm, between Hemel Hempstead and St Albans, and kitted it out as their ideal studio.
Now, they not only work from the Old Dairy studio (above), they also offer taster classes and short courses to anyone keen to learn the art of jewellery making.
IN PICTURES: THE OLD DAIRY STUDIO AND HOPTON & FURLONG'S WORK
Both Tracy and Martin are graduates of St Martins Art College London who have exhibited nationally. Martin got a first class honors in 1990 and Tracy grauduated with a higher second class honours in 1998. Martin still teaches BA and MA courses at St Martins, as well as spending 10 hours a week at his studio in London's jewellery centre, Hatton Garden.
They are busy professional jewellers, working on individual commissions, their own designs, and model making - producing a single piece to order that will then be used to create a line of jewellery. Their commissions range from engagement rings, wedding rings, dress and occasion rings, watches, pendants and earrings to more unusual items like bespoke champagne flutes.
Martin's style is influenced by Victoriana, and he even specialises in items in vogue during that period - ornate enamelled unbrella handles, for example, or mourning jewellery to commemorate a lost loved one. Tracy's produces timeless, delicate pieces with a focus on texture and colour.
Martin was also trained as a cabinet maker and all the benches at The Old Dairy are of his own creation, made using traditional skills. He supplies bespoke jewellery benches to other studios.
If you'd like to try Martin and Tracy's jewellery-making classes, they offer five-hour one-day courses on the second Sunday of each month, which will cost you £50. There are also classes on Monday afternoons, and a seven-week course starting in the summer, from £225.
Your first project will be to make a simple copper band. Then you'll progress to pendants, stone-set rings, earrings, cufflinks and gift items. They teach every jewellery-making technique other than enamelling.
There's also a reference library at the studio that students can access. Tracy and Martin's goal is to offer everything that students usually travel to London for, right here in Hertfordshire. They also hope to build a network of jewellery makers and artists in the area, with their Old Dairy studio as one of the centres. To find out more, contact Tracy and Martin using the details below.
Hopton & Furlong, The Old Dairy, Beaumont Hall Farm, Beaumont Hall Lane, St Albans, Herts, AL3 6RN. Tel 07821288302 or 07931736959 or 01582 799040. Email hoptondesign AT yahoo.co.uk.
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