Sybil Williamson

Sybil is a silver clay artist, trading as Solway Silver. She works from her workshop/studio at home in rural Dumfries and Galloway. Much of her work is inspired by the natural world, particularly the local landscapes and wildlife. 

Solway Silver offers a range of jewellery and ornamental pieces handcrafted by Sybil in fine silver.

What is silver clay? 

Silver clay is made from very fine particles of pure silver. This silver has been reclaimed, mainly from technology industries, film industries and medical equipment. The silver particles are suspended in an organic binder to make the clay. The piece is formed in clay and fired in a kiln. During the firing the binder burns off and the silver particles sinter into a solid piece. This piece is 99.9% pure silver and it can be hallmarked at an assay office as fine silver/999. 

This is a sustainable method of creating original pieces in fine silver. Each piece is individually made so no two pieces are entirely identical.

‘‘I enjoy working with silver clay. It is a very versatile medium for handcrafted pieces.’’

‘‘Silver clay in the kiln is quite close to alchemy. Some sort of magic happens in the firing process.’’

Sybil also enjoys working with textiles and has a range of handmade home furnishings which include lampshades, cushions and footstools.