Wayne Meeten

Wayne was born completely deaf in one ear and with a speech impediment. His teachers told his parents he would be nothing but average. He left school at 16 and began training to renovate antique jewellery in the famous lanes of Brighton, his hometown. After six years working for the same company, feeling despondent about his prospects as jeweller, he travelled the world gaining life experiences backpacking on his own.

On his return some three years later he moved to London and enrolled at the Sir John Cass School of Art to start again and learn the basics of diamond mounting as a mature student.

After another three years and winning every award for his making, he was told that if he wanted to continue his journey he must learn to create and design which was something he had never considered. Under the tutelage of the finest designer makers at The Cass, now known as Metropolitan University, he was shown ways of thinking, making and creating.  

At this time he had a major accident and in his recovery he started to learn the ancient philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung to heal himself. It is well documented that this eastern mediative flowing form of movement changed his path from being a jeweller to go big and create larger works moving into the realms of silversmithing.

Line-harmony and balance are integral within the  forms he creates. He was accepted at the Tokyo University Of Fine Arts and Music, the sister college to the Royal College of Art, as a visiting professor to learn Mokume Gane. First he had to study the Japanese language and then travelled to Tokyo where he studied under some of the finest metalsmiths who have been bestowed the title Living National Treasure: Professor Hirotoshi Ito - Norio Tamagawa and Masanobu Kitoh

On his return, and the success of his first Goldsmiths Fair, he was finally able to establish his own studio in London and then moved to the countryside of Devon where he now resides.

His work to date is meticulously considered…… as he shares in a statement….'it's the pauses between each hammer mark, each motion of filing, sanding and taking rest which slow your mind and lets you see your work in a fresh and innovative way'. It will tell you what it wants to become. Metal is alive. One just needs to slow down and listen.

Brief biography:
2024 Visiting professor - Nagaoka Design University / Hiroshima Academy of Arts Japan
2024 Visiting Lecturer Colorado Metalsmiths Association - America
2020 Goldsmiths Craft Council Premier Award Winner / Gold / 1st Prize                            2000-2014 visiting lecturer Degree Course at Metropolitan University London 

Committee Member - Contemporary British Silversmiths CBS
Selected Homo Faber Guide - curated by Michelangelo Foundation
Represented by Helen Chislett Gallery London

Committee member and Fellow of the Institute of professional Goldsmith’s IPG

Freeman of the Goldsmiths Company

Committee member selection committee 2017 -2019 - mentor Make Southwest 2023 -2025

Many works have been published and exhibited nationally and internationally his works are held at public collections - Chatsworth House, New College Oxford, The Goldsmiths Company London .