Feb 27 2025 32 mins 2
When you have an artistic eye and a talent for creativity you are often blessed with being able to use this skills in different ways, and Claire Stockings-Baker is a perfect example of a multi-disciplinary artist.
Sculptural silver jewellery is what Claire is best known for as an artist, but her creative career started in costume design, and print making and painting are still a big part of her life. In our lovely chat - which as fellow dog lovers didn’t actually focus too much on our four-legged friends - Claire shares the creative path that fate as well as passion has taken her on.
Following a BA in textiles and fashion at Winchester School of Art, https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/faculties-schools-departments/winchester-school-of-art
Claire studied costume at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School https://oldvic.ac.uk/, an experience she loved and which launched her career in the theatrical costumes. But falling ill while she was travelling overseas made Claire re-think her work and the lifestyle that having a career in the theatre entails and decided to move back to her native Cornwall.
While working in interior design Claire decided to re-train as a jeweller; but rather than return to art college she taught herself through reading books, watching videos and lots of experimentation. And once she was happy with her creations she didn’t look back.
During our chat Claire talks about her time at the Bristol Old Vic https://bristololdvic.org.uk/ and the productions she was involved with, and how having a costumier’s eye plays a key part in creating her jewellery designs. Claire also reveals that learning to outsource the parts of her creative business where she knows that others can do it better and more quickly, has been a huge part in making her practice and her business more efficient.
Claire’s gorgeous work will be back at the Byre Gallery this summer https://thebyregallery.co.uk/collections/claire-stockings-baker
And you can follow her on instagram at @clairestockingsbakerjewellery
You can follow me @elaine_dye_ and the Byre Gallery @thebyregallery
