Jill Spain – Christmas Pie Creations

I have designed and created many things: jewellery, greetings cards and ceramics and I’ve dabbled in even more: alcohol art, resin work, calligraphy and I am sure there are even more gorgeous crafts for me to try.   For the last five years I have been designing and creating mosaic work – how did I not discover this beautiful way of creating art a long time ago?  I love it.   Hard to believe, as it often involves smashing tiles and slate, but I find it very relaxing.  Most of my work is made with a specific plan in mind, but occasionally I just let the design do what it wants.  I love curves and occasionally let the tiles dictate how they want to be placed – this could be with wavy lines, circles or a large piece of slate added to create a very different shape or design.

I create pieces that can be displayed inside as well as in the garden.  My outside pieces can be hung in trees, placed on poles to catch the sunshine or put on walls.  I always have a range of Christmas mosaic items ready or some that I am working on: Christmas trees, snowmen and penguins are my favourites.  I use a variety of materials: ceramic and glass tiles, slate, old jewellery, beads, wood, crushed glass and glitter and love to try different materials to see how they look.

BBCTV South visited my studio in December to film me working; this was part of a series of Christmas-themed programmes that went out in December 2024.  Great fun and a bit nerve-wracking too.

My open studio will have lots of indoor and outside pieces and if you see one that you like, but would like it in a different colour, that’s exciting, so please ask.