250216PBCraig TUTOR: Craig Winton, jeweller, teaches jewellery making at CES. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS
Craig Winton, maker of exquisite jewellery, also turns his talents to teaching the craft of jewellery making for Community Education Service (CES).
He's been teaching at CES for about seven years.
"It can be a bit of a challenge, but I don't think it's hard to teach people how to make jewellery,"
he says. "Everyone's expectations are different; some come along thinking it's going to be easy but there's a lot of patience involved, a lot of concentration. You've got to listen and you've to apply yourself."
Craig started making jewellery by taking night classes in Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1996. "It's pretty much the same sort of class that I'm offering here in Whanganui."
Craig's sister, Kirsty Winton, is a jeweller and he saw a ring she had sent to his partner Amanda. "I thought it looked amazing and I could see how she had made it. I was making wire creations at the time, jewellery out of wire, but I didn't know how to solder. So I thought if I want to take jewellery making any further I have to learn. I took a night class, loved it and have been making jewellery ever since."
His tutor, a silversmith, introduced Craig to a Dutch goldsmith in Edinburgh who eventually gave him a part-time job. "I'm self-taught but I've worked at the bench of some amazing Hatton Garden trained jewellers."
Craig says mostly women take his classes at CES, but men are certainly welcome. It's about learning a new skill - jewellery for oneself is a byproduct of the course.
"It's very labour intensive but I think it's very rewarding. The majority of people who take my course have a great time. It's very social. With a maximum of six people you get to make some new friends."
Wellington-born Craig lived in Scotland for 10 years, spent some time in France and he and Amanda have been in Whanganui for 10 years. Craig's work is exhibited in galleries throughout the country, and has been purchased by private buyers in New Zealand and abroad. He also accepts commissions. He works in Antenna in Dublin St but is looking forward to exhibiting for Artists Open Studios at Bricksticks, 18a Georgetti Rd.
To learn jewellery making, book a place in the class - 345 4717.
