Ellys May Woods is a Scottish silversmith and jeweller. She creates her pieces from her workshop in Linlithgow, West Lothian. Ellys’ work is influenced by architectural structures throughout Scotland. She explores their linear qualities and angles along with the materials used in their construction. She enjoys making mini architectural forms for the home and body. We are delighted to welcome Ellys back to Elements this year, and bring you behind-the-scenes and into the studio to learn more about Ellys and her process of making.

What has been your journey to becoming a maker?

I have always been creative and from a young age enjoyed making objects from any material - from plastic bottles to cereal boxes! I knew I wanted to be a maker but I was unsure of my options so I enrolled in the Portfolio Preparation Course at Glasgow School of Art to explore working with a variety of materials. I naturally gravitated towards creating small scale sculptures and felt the Silversmithing and Jewellery course at GSA would be perfect for me. I studied there for four years developing designs and learning to work with silver and gold. After graduating I took part in the Bishopsland Educational Trust post graduate training programme to develop my skills further and grow in confidence. I now have a small, cosy workshop in Linlithgow, West Lothian where I design and create my pieces by hand.

Ellys uses models and design software to distort and create interesting shapes to reproduce in silver and get a feel for how a form could look in metal.

What inspires you about architectural forms, and how does this influence your the pieces you create?

I have always been drawn towards the scale of buildings and structures. I love how their shapes and forms completely transform depending on where you are looking at them. I want to capture this within my work.

My ‘Caledonian Collection' is inspired by the three Forth Bridges that tower over the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The bridges have been translated into pieces that reflect the distortion of the forms as you travel across them - creating irregular shapes. These are brought to life through scoring and folding metal to create crisp angles. I create contrast within these pieces by using etching to replicate the concrete used in the construction of the bridges. This collection is an insight into my love for architecture, which I have experienced traveling throughout Scotland.

What is your process of creating a new piece?

My camera is with me pretty much everywhere I go, so I take a lot of photographs of things that catch my eye. Mostly of buildings or structures I’m drawn towards, so I work based around these images. I design very three-dimensionally, creating card models from the photographs I take - this is my way of drawing and sketching ideas. From these models I then begin working in copper to get a feel for these designs in metal before moving on to create them in silver.

How does material choice influence your work and the pieces you create?

I love bringing my designs to life in silver and gold. A large part of my design process is making three dimensional card models to develop ideas, I score and fold sheets of card to create mini sculptures to see what works well physically. It is amazing working through my ideas with such a basic material and then being able to mimic those forms in such a luxurious metal which can last a lifetime and be so sentimental.

What technique is at the core of your process of making?

I mostly use the technique scoring and folding to create my pieces. I create scoring tools from old, worn files. Grinding and filing the end of the file to create an angle which I draw across the silvers surface multiple times to make a channel - meaning the silver can then be folded neatly and soldered in place. This allows me to create the clean, sharp lines within my work. I create contrast by etching textures onto the silver, these textures are etched multiple times to give depth to the metal surface.

On a smaller scale creating jewellery pieces, I have recently been working with wire. Drawing silver and gold down to create thin wires then soldering them together to create sheets of metal which I can then form to create my designs. I find it satisfying creating strong sheets of metal from delicate wires which can be worn and reflect light so nicely.

Process of creating the Napkin Ring

Scoring and folding is a technique Ellys uses within her work to create clean, sharp forms. She makes scoring tools from old, worn out files which allows her to create a groove in the silver to then fold neatly and solder to secure the form.

To learn more about Ellys May Woods and her work, you can find her at @ellysmaywoods on Instagram or ellysmay.co.uk. Ellys is one of fifty makers from across the UK taking part in this years’ digital Elements: A Festival of Jewellery, Silver and Gold.

Images and video courtesy of Ellys May Woods