Try and get some work experience, even if it’s only for a week or two
What is your job?
I'm a freelance silversmith.
What does your job involve?
I design and make visually stimulating, yet functional, silverware. As well as working to create silver vases, bowls, goblets and cutlery, I also keep in touch with what’s going on by going to exhibitions and galleries. You can see more of my work on my web site www.ndidiekubia.com
How did you get to this point in your career?
After RCA, I got a workshop straight away and took a sales job to pay the bills. After a while, I was able to work part-time at the sales job, and so for years I worked 8am-2pm at the day job, and then spent from 3pm-11pm in the workshop. I also took part in exhibitions, demonstrations and taught workshops in schools and museums. Eventually, I started making enough money to live on, and went full-time as a silversmith.
What training did you do and where?
My A level art course wasn’t very inspiring – they just sat us in front of a fruit bowl – so I left and did a Foundation course at Arden Community College, Northenden in Manchester. I wanted to get out of Manchester because it rained all the time, and the only way out was through education. So I looked at a variety of degree courses and chose a degree in 3D Dimensional Design at the University of Wolverhampton. This involved working with wood, metal and plastics, and I latched onto metal. Before going to university, I didn’t even know what silversmithing was.
After university, I was lucky enough to win a place at Bishopsland, a post-graduate workshop for silversmiths and jewellers. I spent a year there, exploring the craft. Then I applied to the Royal College of Art, without realising how prestigious it was! I was successful, and spent a very intense and emotional two years there doing an MA.
Which piece of work are you most proud of?
I’m proudest of a silver bowl and spoon that was commissioned by the P&O Makower Trust and taken by the Crafts Council as a collection piece. It was my first big commission and it’s been shown over and over again. It is now on show at the Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales in Cardiff.
What do you need to succeed in your industry?
Perseverance. The materials are quite expensive, so most silversmiths have to start off by doing a day job too. I’m very lucky to do this full-time.
Who's your work hero / heroine?
Rod Kelly, a silversmith who’s known for the work he’s been commissioned to do. His design, precision and skills are phenomenal.
What inspired you to do this type of work?
When I was at Wolverhampton, there was a studio with beautiful silversmithing tools that looked about 100 years old. I was drawn to the roughness and romance of the whole thing, and just became obsessed with the metals and the tools.
What do your friends/family think of the work you do?
My mum always used to say, ‘You should get a real job.’ She still says that, but now she understands that I’m doing OK and that silversmithing is me.
What are your tips for anyone wanting to do your job?
Try and get some work experience, even if it’s only for a week or two, so you can see somebody working and learn about the silversmith’s environment. If you’re still at school, try a weekend or summer course, or get your teachers to get someone like me in to talk about silversmithing. As for universities, London Metropolitan University has a huge range of jewellery and silversmithing courses. And when you start work as a silversmith, don’t get too sucked into the commercial side of things. It has to be a personal thing; do what you love.
Creative inspirations
Kew Gardens
I find Kew Gardens very inspirational. I love going there by tube or by boat and always take my camera and sketch book.
Henry Moore drawings
I love his drawings and have collected several books of them.
Greenwich
Greenwich is peaceful, beautiful and near my workshop. I like to look for old tools in the antique markets.
Cubism
I’ve always been very drawn to Cubism – the textures and the layers. In particular, I’m fascinated by Picasso’s paintings and sculptures.
New York
I love the shopping, the atmosphere and the arts in New York, and the way you have to hunt out galleries. The Frick Collection is my favourite.
Music
Music is very important because it helps me focus on my work. I listen to soul and classical to keep me calm, or rare groove and house if I’ve got a lot of hammering to do.
Meditation
Meditation is very important for keeping me calm and focused.
Nigerian food
I love food, and it really affects how you work. My favourite is Obona soup from Nigeria, which is made of okra, spinach, ground rice and lots of spices.
My mum
My mum always looks on the bright side and perseveres with everything. She’s also a workaholic, which is a character trait I’ve inherited.
Dressing up
When I’m working, I have to wear practical protective clothing, so I love to wear the opposite when I go dancing at the Rivoli Ballroom in South London. I’ve fallen in love with dresses that go up when you twirl!
If you would like advice on creative careers and courses, contact a Creative Way Careers Adviser - either Matt Ball on m.ball@uel.ac.uk / 07889 001764 or Sarah Comerford on s.comerford@uel.ac.uk / 07515 051509.