Silver With Lesley - Diploma Support Centre

Owner: Lesley Messam

Location: Chichester, West Sussex

Address: 91 Oliver Whitby Road,
Chichester, West Sussex,
PO19 1HS

Tel: 01243 787829

Information about Lesley

Lesley has been making jewellery for over 15 years. Finally she decided to enrol in evening classes on silver smithing, from that point she was hooked and the obsession began. She took a six year certification in silver smithing and jewellery making at South Downs College which she passed with flying colours.

Whilst taking the certification she discovered metal clay. This was new and very exciting and another obsession began. She took class after class and finally became a senior Art Clay Instructor.

All the time she was learning her new passion she was working as a partner in David Messam, the tool shop in Chichester. Lots of hard work in converting the cellar, she opened the Bead Cellar in 2008, a haven for her creativity, where she sells all things jewellery related from silver smithing tools, metal clay and beads.

As well as the Bead Cellar, Lesley has her own studio in Chichester where she teaches a variety of jewellery classes including metal clay, mixed media, silver smithing and glass fusing.

She is also a travelling teacher and has enjoyed teaching at Towcester for Flame Off, as well as enjoying writing for Bead, Beads & Beyond, Making Jewellery magazine and Metal Clay Artist magazine and Fired in the USA. Her most recent achievements are being published in three books, Chains Chains Chains, New Directions and the PMC Annual 2011.

Lesley is still striving to be the best she can possibly be in her field and has recently achieved Masters Registry level IV whilst still working towards her level V.

“I love teaching and the beginners class is still one of my favourites. I get great pleasure from seeing students' faces when they first wear their finished jewellery. It’s a great feeling seeing the joy it brings to them and can’t be beaten”

Lesley's Qualifications and Experience

Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery Diploma in Silver Metal Clay, Level 1 and 2 Art Clay Senior Instructor; PMC certified; Masters Registry IV.

Lesley's Work

Lesley's work