vanilla ink… our philosophy
As well as operating as a silversmithing & jewellery school, we are a not-for-profit social enterprise who support young people and emerging makers in our community by offering creative opportunities, skills development and business support, helping people to improve their life skills and mental health.
Educate
At Vanilla Ink: The Smiddy, we want to support as many people as possible to enjoy Silversmithing and Jewellery making at all levels. We want to share techniques and learn from each other.
We offer a variety of classes at a range of prices to suit all budgets. Our range of courses never remains static, we are always developing and designing new opportunities for our students
Inspire
We make beautifully designed Silverware and Jewellery at the Smiddy. We plan to develop several ranges as part of our retail outlet and create individual pieces for commissions.
We hope to inspire our students and be inspired by fellow silversmiths and makers, some who will visit The Smiddy to deliver workshops and stock our retail outlet. We believe our staff should be constantly inspired and Continual Professional Development is core to our philosophy.
Empower
We are a Social Enterprise, and are keen to develop opportunities, particularly for Young People, to develop skills and experiences that they would not normally be able to access.
We are working hard to develop a series of subsidised workshops for local Young People to come to our workshop and enjoy the art of making in metal. We want all our students to feel empowered. We passionately believe in the positive effects of the making process and aim to develop opportunities with partners who share our vision.
