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After an intensive period of metalwork practice at Bryanston
School under an inspired tutor, Cecil Colyer, Simon Beer moved
to Sheffield, the traditional home of British cutlery manufacture,
to study the skills of cutler and silversmith. He started his
silversmithing in David Mellor’s workshops in Sheffield.
Simon considers himself fortunate to have worked as an apprentice
to David Mellor during a period that saw traditional craft apprenticeship
training moving into University settings. During his apprenticeship
he moved from sweeping skills and errand runs to helping make
the early prototypes of Java and Chinese Ivory cutlery.
He acknowledges Mellor’s influence of the clean design lines that now typify Simon’s work. After graduating from the Sir John Cass he went into business as an independant designer and craftsman and continues to practice and develop these skills in his own workshop at the Old Firestation in the County Town of Lewes in Sussex. |
