Fleur Grenier
There are few contemporary pewtersmiths working within the UK, of which Fleur is one. Her passion for pewter began when she was introduced to it while doing her degree at Sir John Cass in London 30 years ago and from that moment she did not look back and it has been a constant companion in her work.
Following her degree she went on to The Royal College of Art, London where she completed her M.A in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery. This passion has remained and when she completed her M.A, she set up a studio in London and in 2003 moved back to Sussex and established the studio where she works from today.
Fleurs current series of work Home started in 2019, exploring the word ‘home’ and what it means, not only to us as humans but also the many insects, mammals, fish and other creatures with which we share our planet. It also gave her an opportunity to explore a new material, concrete. She experimented with the different techniques, but also found a crossover of skills such as mould-making, casting and polishing which gave a harmonious fusion of the two materials.
“Home gives us a feeling of belonging no matter whom or what we are, whether it is a nest, house, habitat or ocean. It is a place to feel safe, comfortable, connected or part of a community. A home provides space for an individual to shelter, sleep and eat in relative peace. For families, tribes or colonies it has the added opportunity to communicate and share knowledge. Whatever organism we may be, we all have a place where we feel comfortable – we know it as home.”
The natural environment is a great influence on Fleur’s work and it is important to her that future generations can also enjoy it. With each sculpture from her Home series that is sold she makes a donation to The Woodland Trust charity to plant a pair of trees, helping to plant woods and regenerate the land.
