A NEWLYN craftsman has been singled out to receive a £7,500 scholarship to help with his apprenticeship as a coppersmith.
Shelley Anderson, 25, who already works with silver, brass and copper, will be funded to train at The Copper Works in Newlyn under the tutelage of Michael Johnson.
Shelley has been paying his own way for the past five months by creating his own unique work.
The series of marine life pieces in metal that he has designed and produced include lobsters and swordfish made from recycled cutlery.
He has also produced his own range of jewellery.
Now he has won a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship to help with a formal year-long apprenticeship at The Copper Works.
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) works to keep alive modern and traditional crafts and trades in the UK.
Newlyn has a long association with copper working and Shelley has been helping to teach it to local children to ensure that this heritage is not lost.
Shelley said: "Coppersmithing was once a thriving industry in my home town of Newlyn. My aim is to keep it alive. I am passionate about working with copper and very keen to master the materials and acquire the skills to manipulate them."
Shelley will travel to London to be presented with his scholarship in June next year.
A QEST spokesperson said: "Winning a QEST Scholarship will ensure that Shelley can focus on a one-year apprenticeship under Michael Johnson, enabling him to undertake a more diverse range of assignments from restoration and repairs of water features and interior ornaments as well as work from the National Trust and ecclesiastical projects.
"Although The Copper Works ensures that traditional methods are upheld, Shelley will become competent in the use of water-jet cutting of copper, a new technology that will greatly support the production of hand-crafted items."
Application forms for QEST Scholarships can be downloaded from www.qest.org.uk.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN