The highly anticipated Pewter Live 2021 is a three-day online event running from 18 to 20 May with the aim of promoting the use of pewter in modern and traditional products, encouraging innovation in design and exploit pewter to its fullest potential.

Pewter Live 2021 brings together diverse expertise, students, established designers and talented pewtersmiths to explore a variety of themes, interrogating the qualities of different techniques and pewter’s appeal to contemporary consumers of all ages and tastes.

The event will open its digital doors at www.pewterlive.co.uk from Tuesday 18 May to all who wish to attend. Live sessions will be available every day 18-20 May from 17:30 to 19:30, please visit the What's On page – Pewter Live 2021 to join the meetings.

Tuesday 18th May 2021

Chair: Mr Chris Hudson MBE and Mrs Isabel Martinson MBE

17:30 | Studio tour | Workshop: Fleur Grenier

A virtual tour of Fleur Grenier workshop presented by Isabel Martinsons MBE. Fleur has worked as a pewtersmith for over 20 years, combining traditional pewtersmithing skills with modern design, to create contemporary pewterware, as well as bespoke commissions and sculptures. She is one of the Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Pewterers. Fleur studied at The Royal College of Art in London and has run her practise from her studio in W. Sussex. She has two distinct elements to her work, her homeware collection – Maris which includes tableware, gift items but she also works to commission and runs workshops inworking with pewter. Fleur also works as a sculptor her current series of work is ‘Home’, where she explores what home is and uses pewter and cast concrete in these pieces. www.fleurgrenier.co.uk.

18:15 | In conversation with Steve Anwar

Chair: Mr Paul Wildash

19:00 | Studio tour | Workshop: Gill Clement

Chair: Mrs Isabel Martinson MBE

A virtual tour of Gill Clement workshop presented by Isabel Martinsons MBE. Gill is a jewellery designer, working from her studio/shop in Mumbles, South Wales. She studied at Sir John Cass School of Art in the City of London, 1978-1982. She works with pewter for jewellery collections, bridal pieces, through to repousse mirrors for interiors. The workshop will illustrate the work Gill is currently developing for bridal collections and formal wear using pewter foil ivy leaves and rock crystal. Gill is currently creating ethereal pieces influenced by Welsh mythology and nature; The Lady of The Lake , Llyn y Fan Fach. During the workshop Gill will show the various stages of making from ideas and drawings to the finished pieces and illustrate with photographs of previous collections. www.gillclement.com

The Worshipful Company of Pewterers is delighted to announce their new partnership with Design-Nation. On the evening of Wednesday 19 May Designers from the Design-Nation portfolio are featured in a series of workshops and talk events.

Wednesday 19th May 2021

17:30 | Studio tour | Workshop: Amy Leigh

Chair: Mr Paul Wildash

Metalsmith and jeweller Amy Leigh will deliver a keynote address about her environmentally friendly practice, creating beautiful vessels and distinctive wearable art jewellery. Amy Leigh is an environmentally conscious, contemporary designer and maker of jewellery and decorative objects. Each piece is unique and handcrafted by Amy in her Suffolk studio, using sustainable materials and innovative techniques. Amy has a First-Class honours degree in Design Crafts from De Montfort University where she specialised in contemporary jewellery design and metalwork. In the studio she continues to develop her recognisable signature technique: melting pewter to a liquid state before rapidly cooling it in water, capturing the energetic and fluid form of the once molten metal. The spontaneity of this process ensures each piece is different.

18:15 | Panel discussion: Celebrating materials and form in partnership with Design Nation.

Chair: Mr Paul Wildash and Mrs Liz Cooper, Design-Nation’s development manager

Design-Nation’s portfolio of contemporary designer-makers have wide and imaginative ways of designing and using materials, metal and many other substances. This discussion will look at how designers approach the process of creating vessels and other 3D forms. Speakers are artist in metal Jacky Oliver, lighting designer Rachel Fitzpatrick, and Design-Nation’s Liz Cooper, who will introduce the topic with a short reflection on the achievements of the late Miranda Watkins, an outstanding product designer who worked with Wentworth Pewter on several ranges, winning Design-Nation’s Eureka award in 2008.

Jacky Oliver: Working mainly in metal, including steel, enamel and pewter, Jacky creates small hand held objects through to large-scale architectural pieces; for commissions, exhibitions and residencies throughout the UK. With a broad and open approach Jacky’s work explores a variety of themes, interrogating the qualities of different techniques and processes to evoke a narrative.

Rachel Fitzpatrick works at the interface between art and design using a variety of tactile materials to create playful one-off installations and limited edition pieces in contemporary lighting, for corporate and private interiors and special events. Although she uses a variety of materials, Rachel’s favourite material and the one she is most drawn to is Velcro (hook and loop tape).

19:00 | Panel discussion: Paul Wildash, Patricia Neish and Gordon Robertson in conversation.

Chair: Mr Paul Wildash

In conversation with Patricia Neish, a dear friend of The Worshipful Company of Pewterers, and Gordon W Robertson, a Scottish artist and metal-smith based in London.

Alex and Patricia Neish sought to keep the best of British Pewter in the United Kingdom and identified the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum as the ideal home for their extensive and remarkable collection, which includes many exquisite and rare pieces. Patricia and her late husband Alex have always been very generous supporter of Pewter Live; The Neish Memorial Prize is sponsored by Patricia in memory of her late husband.

Gordon works in pewter, brass, copper, steel, zinc, silver, textiles and print; he fuses traditional artisan techniques with his own unique methodology, specializing in hand-etched surface. His work is highly tactile and textural, providing a sublime accent to both traditional and contemporary luxury interiors. Forging organic, intricate patterns inspired by nature and abstract geometry, Gordon's designs are timeless and eminently collectable. Awards include first prize; Pewter Live 2012 and 2013, The Neish Pewter Award 2012, 2013 and 2019. QEST Scholarship 2013.

Thursday 20th May 2021

Chair: Mr Chris Hudson MBE and Mrs Isabel Martinson MBE

17:30 | Panel discussion: The resurrection of ABPC, in conversation with the members.

Isabel Martinson MBE, Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers, and Chairman of the Pewter Promotion Committee, will chair a panel discussion with four members of The Association of British Pewter craftsmen founded to promote high standards, raising awareness of pewter and encouraging innovation and excellence in manufacturing, achieved impressive results. Speakers include Ed Glover, a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers; Founder of Glover and Smith and members of The Association of British Pewter Craftsmen. Glover and Smith has been designing and making award-winning pewterware since 1994. The family run company was started by designers Ed Glover BA (Hons) UCA Farnham and Judi Glover BA (Hons) Manchester Met who brought their previous expertise in the art world to produce beautiful and contemporary tableware and gifts.

Trish Woods, has been working in Pewter for the last 15 years and strives to bring a new, contemporary aesthetic to this traditional metal, exploring new ways of working and incorporating other materials such as acrylic. She studied for a PhD in Design at Plymouth University researching new methods for patinating pewter. This research culminated in the development of a unique process for colouring pewter which is now a signature of her work. She has presented numerous papers on the subject both nationally and internationally www.trishwoodsdesignmetals.com.

Michael Pinder of Pinder Brothers, manufacturers of silverplated cutler and fine pewterware and also importers of quality giftware. The company has been a family business since 1877 and has been based in the iconic Sheaf Plate Works since 1939, now an expanding creative hub in the centre of Sheffield. In 2017 Pinder Brothers celebrates it’s 140th anniversary continuing to manufacture in its Sheffield factory: cutlery, silverplated holloware, and pewterware exporting around the world including new territories in Eastern Europe. The company now specialises in engravable Giftware dealing with major distributors in the trophy, corporate, shoe and internet trades.

Fleur Grenier, one of the Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Pewterers. She has worked as a pewtersmith for over 20 years, combining traditional pewtersmithing skills with modern design, to create contemporary pewterware, as well as bespoke commissions and sculptures. Fleur studied at The Royal College of Art in London and has run her practise from her studio in W. Sussex. She has two distinct elements to her work, her homeware collection – Maris which includes tableware, gift items but she also works to commission and runs workshops inworking with pewter. Fleur also works as a sculptor her current series of work is ‘Home’, where she explores what home is and uses pewter and cast concrete in these pieces. www.fleurgrenier.co.uk

18:15 | Panel discussion: Trish Woods in conversation with the entrants of Pewter Live 2021 student competition.

Chair: Mrs Isabel Martinson MBE

This is a great opportunity to listen to Trish Woods, a Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Pewterers, interacting with University students who have entered Pewter Live 2021 student competition. Trish Woods studied for a PhD in Design at Plymouth University researching new methods for patinating pewter. This research culminated in the development of a unique process for colouring pewter which is now a signature of her work. She has presented numerous papers on the subject both nationally and internationally. Trish received a number of honours and awards, including The Alex and Patricia Neish Award for Innovation and Design; The Harold Hyam Wingate Scholarship for research in Art and Design; Fulbright Scholarship for Education.

19:00 | Live announcement: Pewter Live 2021 winners awarded

Chair: Mr Chris Hudson MBE and Mrs Isabel Martinson MBE

Pewter Live 2021 marks the 33rd anniversary of the competition. Our vision would not have become reality without the huge commitment and active contribution from our sponsors and partners over the years. We are working together to champion creativity, innovation in design and originality; thanks to our sponsors contribution we are able to award generous prizes for both the open and the students competition, winners will be announce live.

Registrations are closed

Pewter Live 2021