Aspiring Hertfordshire metalsmith makes the leap - after six months of staring at her equipment!

Hertfordshire-based Claire Tasker had an interesting start to her new life of working for herself as a self-taught metalsmith. She was too scared to open the basic jewellery-making kit she'd bought herself comprising a blowtorch and piercing saw for six months!

Claire, who lives just south of Hitchin, finally took a deep breath and decided to give it a go and made her first silver ring in 2019 at the kitchen table. Fast forward three years and she now has her own home studio set up and a thriving business.

This year, Claire also decided to set up her own website rather than continuing to use online selling platforms, many of which charge hefty commissions. However, she does spend a fair bit of time on Facebook Group, Not On Amazon, where likeminded artisans and small businesses show off their products and spend their time.

Claire works with silver, gold, diamonds, sapphires and other precious gemstones. She designs her work around organic shapes and textures to offer something a little different to mainstream jewellery. 

Claire now loves working for herself and being independent — and keeping her business going is extremely important to her. She spends her days bashing metal, playing with fire and usually scrabbling around on her hands and knees trying to find that tiny diamond that inevitably falls into the black hole on the floor.

Each day I get to play with fire, hit things with a hammer and try not to answer the door to the postman with my face covered in polish. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Running your own small business and doing something you enjoy is so rewarding and I wouldn't change it for the world. Now where's that diamond?"