Melanie Guy Honorary Fellow

Focused on metals Melanie develops the use of pewter through traditional methods and in unconventional ways, which include craft, design and art.

Not considered a precious metal, pewter is a ‘sensitive’ metal which has its own distinctive qualities and aesthetics that mature with use. Exploring its versatility - it can be used for functional objects as well as aesthetic possibilities.

From silversmithing, hand-raising and soldering, to produce objects for presentation or display, Melanie now specialises in using this crafting material in 2d design, in the art of mark-making on wall panels to make pewter wall art. Some are sculptural, using simple workshop methods to create relief contours and subtle texturing to suggest movement and time passing. This work relates to memories of the elements and natural environment when years were spent living on a boat and sailing and experiencing the drama of it all.

Melanie developed gilding techniques on pewter and introduces colour by applying metal powders to tonal areas, darkened with chemicals. Her minimalist approach employs gentle textures and refined marks with the belief that ‘less is more’.

Education/Professional Memberships
2018 Honorary Fellow SDC
2009 Exhibiting artist at DACS
2007 South West Sculptors Association membership
2005-2009 Hidden Art Cornwall membership
2004 Granted fellowship of the Society of Designer Craftsmen
2002 Invited member of Plymouth Society of Artists
2002 Granted membership to the Society of Designer Craftsmen - Council Member
1998 – 1999 Plymouth University –BA (Hons) APPLIED ARTS
1996 – 1998 Plymouth College of Art and Design - HND in Design Metals1968 – 1971 Swansea College of Art – DIPLOMA IN ART & DES – Ceramics - CREDIT
Swansea College of Education - CERT. ED. - Specialist Art Teachers Certificate

Short Courses
2006 & 2011 Short course, Contemporary Silversmithing, West Dean, Chichester
2005 Short course, Experimental Jewellery, Metropolitan University, London
2001 & 2002 Short course, Silversmithing, Guildhall University, London
2000 ‘Drawing Sound’ Workshop, Spacex, with John McNorton, Exeter

Employment & Experience
1988 - ongoing Design work - exterior constructions – Playgrounds and Festivals
2001 - 2007 Publicity co-ordinator for SDC annual exhibition
2005 Feasibility Study co-ordinator, Liskerrett Community Centre, Liskeard
2003 P/t lecturer in 2d and 3d Studies, Plymouth College of Art and Design.
1996 – 1999 Chair of Board of directors of Stoke Climsland Community Project
1983 – 1998 Head of Art Dept. – St. Joseph’s School, Launceston – Part time

Awards
2015 Art Has No Borders digital iBook– Abstract Anthology – first prize winner
2011 The Patricia & Alexander Neish Award, Pewter Live 2011
2004 & 2011 CPD grant Creative Skills Cornwall
2006 Short listed for Wesley Barrell Craft Awards
2004 Grant from Gane Charitable Trust

Solo Exhibitions
2013 High Cross House, Dartington
2013 Les Deux Chevres, Gevrey Chambertin, Bourgogne, France
2012 Commission for SPLASH Falmouth Arts Festival
2011 Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, Trelawny Reception,Truro
2011 Art at the Works – Tavistock, Devon
2005-2013 Drawn to the Valley, Artists of the Tamar Valley - OPEN STUDIOS
2009 Limekiln Gallery, featured exhibition
2007 Greenway, Devon - The Great Create
2006 Alexandra Palace - The Great Christmas Art Fair

Group Exhibitions
2018 DESIGNER CRAFTS at Chelsea College of Art
2009-2018 ’Ways Without Words’ SW Sculptors at Dartington College of the Arts,Devon
2018 - Drawn to the Valley annual exhibition, Tavistock, Devon & Tamar Valley Centre
2014 & 17 RCA Secret 2016 – Stewart’s Law exhibition
2017 The Warren House Inn, Dartmoor – Moor Otters Trail
2014 & 17 Plymouth Society Artists – COUNCIL HOUSE
2015-17 CONTEMPORARY PEWTER – Bank St Arts, Sheffield & Cockington Court, Torquay, Devon
2009,16 & 18 Plymouth Society of Artists, Plymouth Museum & Art Galleries; Artmill Gallery etc
2016 Represented at Design Days Dubal 2016 by Crafts Council Directory display
2015 Penwith Gallery with PSA
2014 & 15 Delamorearts15, Cornwood, Ivybridge, Devon
2007 & 15 Work selected for ‘Drawn’ RWA, Bristol
2014 & 15 MAKE at Devon Guild
2010,14 & 15 BILSTON Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton – "Ten' & “Craftsense”
2008,11,13 & 15 DESIGNER CRAFTS at Mall Galleries, London
2014 Decorex International 2014
2014 NESTA Call for Art Exhibition – EC2A 1DE – http://www.nesta.org.uk/about-... 2014 Selected exhibition at Plymouth City Council, COUNCIL HOUSE
2013 ‘Past, Present and Future’ - Mount Edgcumbe Barrow Centre, Cornwall with DTTV
2012 & 13 “Le Temps des Sirènes” 3rd Biennale Internationale des Femmes, Larmor-Plage, Brittany
2012 Intervention for Falmouth Arts Festival
2012 PSA at St. Ives Society of Artists by invitation
2009,11 & 15 PEWTER LIVE – Pewterers’ Hall, City of London
2011 Royal William Yard with DTTV at BAS7 Plymouth
2011 Lorient Celtic Festival, Brittany
2007 & 10 SDC Gallery, Shoreditch
2009 PEWTER LIVE Academy of Makers, Butcher Works, Sheffield
2009 ‘1984’ Kowalsky Gallery, Designer & Artists Copyright Society, London
2008 & 09 CRUX Fair, Devon
2008 CRAFTED Winchester Discovery Centre
2008 THE CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FAIR Bovey Tracey, Devon
2008 100% DESIGN - Earls Court, London
2006 ORIGIN at Somerset House, Wesley-Barrell Craft Awards shortlist
2006 GREAT ART FAIR, Alexandra Palace
2006 Royal William Yard, Plymouth - ‘URBAN SPLASH’
2004 OXO Tower Gallery, London

Commissions/Projects
2017 MOOR OTTERS project - Dartmoor
2016 Ceramic Trophy - STANWICK HORSE MASK
2015 Private commission – bathroom tiles in pewter
2013 Private commission - Series of work on the Vineyards of Burgundy
2012 ‘Beneath’ – intervention for Falmouth Arts Festival 2012 - SPLASH
2012 Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust – wall sculpture
2011 Oak bench – Stoke Climsland Old School, Cornwall
2010 Falmouth, Cornwall – wooden Dragon’s Ear seats for play area
2010 Broadclyst, Devon – sculptural panel, wood
2009/12 Private commission - clock
2009 HILTON METROPOLE W. London - gold leaf panels on wood
2009 Bilston Craft Gallery – for their collection – ‘TEN’ exhibition – pewter panels series
2008 Roche Diagnostics, Burgess Hill, Sussex – acrylic/pewter sculptural wall panel
2008 Commissions in the City – Royal Bank of Scotland; Bryan Cave LLP, London
2007 Commission pewter wall sculpture - The Boltons, South Kensington
2007 St Austell, Cornwall regeneration project - sculptural seat, steel and wood
2005 Trophies & design for ‘Enterprising Plymouth’, Force 4, Plymouth
2004 Trophies & designs for 'Business Challenge 2004', Force 4, Plymouth
2004 Short listed public art commission, Cotswold Water Park
2001 & 2002 Inter-active Artwork - for Devon Artists In Schools Initiative
2001 Trophies for Xerox - Mike Smith Award
1997 Trophy design competition winner & commission, Business Link, Plymouth
1996 Ceramic relief commission, Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth
1995 Design for the refurbishment of public area in Callington, Cornwall