Phil Barnes Enameller

General information

my working life has been of a freelance enameller working for various designer craftsman silversmiths goldsmiths and jewellers undertaking commissions from the retail trade including the large london jewell houses corporate and livery companies within the city.while working on such commissions i will be asked to work very closely to the client's designs and will try to bring to life in enamel the colours the brightnh this at times can be restrictive the demands that are made upon your skills always come as a challenge.my father had been in the trade since 1926 so my introduction to enamelling started early watching my dad at his work spending time in the workshop from as young as eight or nine. going with dad on a saturday morning or during school holidays it was almost a natural progression that i would follow in his footsteps and at the age of fifteen i started full time work. working alongside my father up until his retirement in 1983.my training followed the traditional apprentice path; serving under masters as they themselves had served before passing down the skills that had in their turn been passed down for generations of craftsman and in my time continuing the practice within my own apprentices.