Documenting Craft: The South House Silver Workshop Trust
Introduction
One of the things I enjoy most about my work is documenting people and places where traditional skills are still very much alive. Whether working on editorial commissions or creating imagery for organisations and heritage projects, photography offers a powerful way to record craftsmanship and the stories behind it.
Recently I had the pleasure of photographing the South House Silver Workshop Trust for a feature published by The Goldsmiths’ Company, an organisation dedicated to supporting goldsmithing and silversmithing in the UK. The article, written by Chris Mann, explores the important role the workshop plays in nurturing the next generation of silversmiths and preserving traditional craft skills.
Location
Located in Muckle Roe, Shetland, the workshop is shaped as much by its surroundings as by the work produced within it. Surrounded by a rugged coastal landscape of open water, rock and shifting light, South House sits in a setting that feels both remote and deeply connected to nature. It’s easy to imagine how such an environment becomes an inspiration in itself - a place where the beauty of the coastline and the ever-changing conditions encourage a thoughtful, considered approach to making. At the same time, the peacefulness of the area allows for a level of focus that is increasingly rare, creating the ideal setting in which to practise and refine one’s craft.
The Story Behind the Photographs
The South House Silver Workshop Trust is dedicated to supporting emerging silversmiths by providing workspace, mentorship and an environment where traditional techniques can continue to flourish - a place where makers are able to hone their craft through daily practice, experimentation and the passing on of knowledge.
Spending time in the workshop offered a great opportunity to document the atmosphere of the space - the workbenches, the tools, and the craftspeople shaping precious metal by hand. Workshops like this carry a sense of quiet focus and patience, where centuries-old techniques are carefully passed down, helping to preserve these skills for future generations.
From a photographic perspective, spaces like these are rich with texture, detail and character, making them fascinating environments to document.
A Beautifully Written Feature
The photographs were commissioned to accompany Chris Mann’s feature for The Goldsmiths’ Company, and it’s always particularly rewarding when images sit alongside writing that tells the story so well.
Chris has written a thoughtful and engaging piece that captures the spirit of the workshop and the importance of supporting traditional silversmithing skills for the future. His article brings together the people, the craft and the wider significance of the Trust’s work in a way that is both informative and inspiring.
I’m delighted that my photographs were able to help illustrate such a well-crafted story.
Read the Full Article
If you’d like to learn more about the South House Silver Workshop Trust and the work they are doing to support silversmithing skills, I would highly recommend reading Chris Mann’s article on The Goldsmiths’ Company website link.
The workshop also carries small but meaningful connections to its past and the local community. Rod explained how neighbouring optician Linda Gunn of iCare Shetland, based on Lerwick’s Commercial Street, gifted him the original Kelly Optician signs when the business rebranded. Rather than being lost, these pieces of the building’s history have been carefully preserved - with one now displayed on the exterior and another inside the workshop - adding an extra layer of character and a quiet link between past and present.
Silversmith, Rod Kelly, at work at the South House Silver Workshop Trust. Photographed for The Goldsmiths’ Company.
The Goldsmiths’ Company has published a number of similarly insightful features, documenting the people, places and skills that continue to shape the craft today. If you enjoyed this story, it’s well worth exploring their wider collection of Goldsmiths’ Stories, which offer a fascinating look into the world of contemporary and traditional silversmithing. https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/goldsmiths-stories
Photography by Ben Mullay – documentary, editorial and commissioned photography for organisations, heritage projects and businesses.
