About Christopher Perry

As a designer/maker specialising in silversmithing. I enjoy the generation of ideas and resolving problems through design and welcome working with clients to develop ideas to their specification and needs. I like to develop and evolve ideas through the process of making, and believe that designing and making is a partnership. I enjoy the challenge of infusing mechanics, scale, and form to produce modern silver tableware. My silversmith work is contemporary yet based on conventional techniques and objects that are part of our everyday ritual.

My journey into silversmithing began when I was working with my father in his workshop in the school holidays. After a number of years attending City and Guilds courses, I gained the opportunity to do a degree in metalwork and jewellery at Sheffield Hallam University.

My relationship with the University as a student led to me being selected to produce the 2008 St Leger Classic Horse Racing Trophy.

I have been fortunate enough to have been able to work with some wonderful and very experienced designer silversmiths. After completing my degree I was asked to work with Brian Asquith, a silversmith, sculptor and industrial designer. His company employed a team of designers and technicians who were dedicated to designing and producing work to a very high standard and it was great to be shown how to produce pieces to these demanding standards under the keen eye of one of their top silversmiths, David Mason. It was with Brian Asquith that I was introduced to the work of the Christopher Dresser. In 2006 I was asked to produce a pair of Dresser Teapots for the Asquith Design Partnership.

I returned to the education system to complete a Master of Arts in Silversmithing at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham. After graduating I decided that I did not want to become too engaged within the folds of the family business. I felt that I would benefit from working with other silversmiths and seeing how their practices worked.

My time working in London led me to working in many different fields, developing and producing work for architects, interior designers and fine artists. One of my own pieces I produced in London was a Chain of Office for the Rotary Club of Edinburgh in 18ct gold. The piece used many of the skills that I had developed over the years, such as hand engraving, chasing, modelling and soldering. It required a great amount of problem solving and a lot of Dleft casting clay.

Having learnt some valuable lessons, and made some life-changing decisions, I then settled back in Sheffield once again, this time to make my home as well as my business. I began to develop work to submit to the Goldmiths Fair to which I was accepted in 2004, and have been exhibiting at the spectacular Silversmithing and Jewellery show ever since.

I hope you have enjoyed this little insight to my potted history and enjoy browsing the rest of the site.