BENCHspace ...because making matters
creativity, community, craft
BENCHspace is a silversmithing and jewellery workshop that offers you the opportunity to come and make bespoke jewellery in your own unique style.
Taster Sessions
BENCHspace offers a range of taster sessions, courses and masterclasses to build up your skill set with step-by-step expert tuition, enabling you to spend some creative ‘me’ time in our fully equipped workshop. For all abilities, from absolute beginner to competent jeweller.
Taster sessions are a perfect gift for those special celebrations – including birthdays, anniversaries, hen parties, bridal parties, (to make bridesmaid, best man, bride and groom gifts) corporate away days, team building and creative time with friends.
Great for friends and family
Bring your friends and family to share your special occasion, creating amazing jewellery to wear home with pride and great memories to share.
Your Expert Instructor
Karen Cooke
I have over 30 years of experience in the jewellery trade and am a fully qualified teacher, silversmith and jeweller and have taught all ages and abilities over the years. I look forward to supporting you in all your making adventures.
In the last 12 months
Why Choose Us
Here are a few reasons
- Enjoy learning in our fully equipped jewellery workshop.
- Each person has their own jewellers’ bench with full set of tools.
- Make your own amazing jewellery to fit perfectly in your own unique style!
Testimonials
What people are saying
Saturday 28th June (10am-1.30pm)
Make your own gem set silver ring with expert guidance. Choose from our huge selection of gemstones and learn some traditional jewellery forming skills to make and hand set a gemstone ring.
Book online at bench-space.com
BENCHspace happenings this week ….
So much activity this week in the workshop and lots of projects on the go…
#benchspacesilverschool #jewelleryworkshop #jewelleryworkbench
Book a creative day out with one of our taster sessions or take an eight week course ….
Learn how to make your own fabulous jewellery and get a new hobby…
Many thanks @leannescreative for your fabulous photoshoot. I recommend Leanne for any business promo - she blended in so well we forgot she was there !
#benchspacesilverschool #benchspacejewelleryclasses #handmadejewellery #jewelleryworkshop #jewellerybeginner #jewellerytastersessions
Totally wired…
Week 3 of our beginners course already and we’re drawing, hammering, bending and soldering wire tonight to make fabulous silver rings … with @magpie_metalsmith
#beginnersjewellerycourse #benchspacesilverschool #jewelleryclasses
Super spinners today!
Well done everyone on your brilliant makes today …
9 spinners and a stacking set of 4 rings, all with a little gemstone or two - set by our brilliant students.
Well done folks 🤩⚒️💪.
You were amazing!
#spinnerrings #jewellerytastersessions #jewellerymakers #benchspacesilverschool
Did you know we offer private tuition at our fabulous BENCHspace workshop with goldsmith @marlieswhite and tutor @magpie_metalsmith.
See our website for details and send us an email to organise your bespoke tutor package.
Everything from ironing out your stone-setting woes to sorting your soldering solutions… all in our well equipped seaside studio.
#benchspacesilverschool #jewelleryclasses #jewellerytuitionuk
Which gemstone is your favourite?
Make a gem set silver ring in our morning taster session. Choose from our varied selection of gemstones and set it in a ring you’ve made from scratch yourself.
Saturday 28th June 10am-1.30pm
Learn some traditional jewellery skills and gift yourself some creative time together.
You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve with our expert tuition.
Way back when …
Working in Britton St, London in 1990s. Loved it ⚒️
#silversmith #silversmithing
Our beginners getting to grips this week with the fundamentals of piercing, drilling and tensioning saw blades….
Jewellers precisely pierce out intricate shapes in silver and gold using a fine-bladed jeweller’s saw held in a specialized frame. This technique involves carefully maneuvering the thin blade through the metal, following a drawn or transferred design. The saw’s delicate action allows for the creation of openwork patterns, detailed outlines, and the removal of specific areas, it needs a steady hand and careful control to achieve clean and accurate lines.
This is always improved with practice and if it’s one part of your process that you don’t enjoy - spend some more time with your saw. It should be a gentle process and not a battle.
Relax that sawing arm and use the holding fingers to press on the metal as near to the blade as possible - otherwise it will move and ping! (There goes another blade!).
#jewelleryskills #jewelleryfundamentals #jewellerymakingclasses #benchspacesilverschool
Saturday 17th May (10am-4pm)
3 spaces left to come and make your own chunky silver link bracelet. Make it to fit you perfectly in your own unique style.
All silver, tools and tuition provided. Just bring yourself and a packed lunch for a creative day out with other lovely likeminded souls.
We’d love to see you, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve!
For more details visit bench-space.com.
Being creative is an act of self love….
So is wearing beautiful jewellery, especially the ones you’ve made yourself!
Gift yourself some time in the workshop and make something shiny and wonderful, just because you can!
Visit bench-space.com for more details.
This is all the booty we made on our last workshop!
Next is on Saturday 19th July.
Earrings and pendants… want some new jewellery but can’t find what you’re looking for? Make it with us …
… all in Sterling silver and made just for you, by you .
Brilliant. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve !
Visit bench-space.com for more details.
The making of a tiny silver rose…
Made by Matt on our Tuesday evening class as a birthday gift for Rose… how lovely 😻
#handmadejewelleryuk #benchspacesilverschool #jewellerycourses
Casting copper and silver together in a mixed metals cast, bench buddy essential…
What are your bank holiday plans?
Look we made today…. Bespoke silver rings, all handmade by you.
⚒️ 👏 👏 👏 ⚒️
Well done folks!
Enjoy wearing them and lovely to meet you all today x
We have a last minute cancellation for the silver ring workshop this Saturday morning.
Make your own bespoke silver ring in your own unique style….
book at bench-space.com
Welcoming our new students last night on the beginners course…
…they all got off to a flying start and we can’t wait to see what they will make in the next 8 weeks!
👏👏👏⚒️⚒️⚒️
One year ago today we were making these beautiful silver bangles….
We are fully booked for our next dates but we will be adding more dates from October onwards soon.
Sign up to our newsletter, subscribe via our website and get first dibs 👌
Last minute place available on our upcoming ring workshop this Saturday morning! (3rd May 10am-1pm)
Head over to bench-space.com and treat yourself…
Well done to all our stone setters today, learning the subtle art of making and setting faceted stones in tube and collet settings- all made from scratch!
Learning new techniques always pushes you outside your comfort zone and takes practice to master fully.
Many thanks to @marlieswhite for another great day and for upskilling our fabulous BENCHspacers 👏🥰.
#benchspacesilverschool #stonesettingclasses #stonesettingtuition #jewelleryclasses
