Claire originally trained as a sculptor, working in wood and steel and has an honours degree in Fine Art and a P.G.C.E. in Art, Design and Technology. In 2003 she received an award from the South West Arts Council which enabled her to study with Kate Drew-Wilkinson, a prominent bead artist from America.
It was during her time travelling America, in the early nineties, that she was introduced to working with glass. Claire then spent the next six years learning the art of bead making in the remote mountains of West Virginia.
Claire's design inspiration is drawn from her fascination with landscapes and rich intense colour. All her beads are individually made over a hot oxy-propane flame (a process known as lampworking) and wound onto a metal mandrel, skillfully layering colours and melting them together. The bead is finally shaped and cooled in a kiln. Her hand made fused glass jewellery uses a different technique, which in very simple terms, involves cutting layers of cold glass and fusing them together at very high temperatures to create unique fusion of patterns and colours.
Claire Hall Exquisite Jewellery is on sale at her new studio and gallery in Backwell and in galleries and retail gift shops throughout the South West. For information on stockists please email: info@clairehall.co.uk or call the gallery.
Claire is a member of The Association of Contemporary Jewellery,
The Contemporary Glass Society and The Somerset Guild of Craftsmen.
She has recently exhibited at the International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge as part of a Contemporary Glass Society group exhibition entitled "Medallions". Claire was also invited to exhibit at Plowden and Thompson, a long established glass company celebrating the work of glass artists with links to the company.