A Huge Loss to Sheffield's Silversmithing Community

The entire team here at Sheffield Assay Office were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of legendary local silversmith, Katey Felton on the 21st December 2021. Despite her cancer diagnosis many years previously, she strived to make the most of her situation and continued to design, make and teach the discipline she was so passionate about.  

In 2002 Katey Felton and Paul Butler were the first participants of the Starter Studio Programme for Silversmiths and Jewellers at Yorkshire Artspace, Persistence Works, Sheffield. With mentor advice from Brett Payne, Chris Knight, Programme Manager, Mir Jansen and Assay Master, Ashley Carson, they kitted out a workshop and started to develop their practice. Both Katey and Paul registered their sponsor’s marks with Sheffield Assay Office. During their initial two years on the programme both produced a high calibre body of work, perfecting their silversmithing techniques and progressing their businesses and careers. Katey’s signature work involved the technique of chasing, and she advanced this technique to a very high standard.

She hand chased the border of the centrepiece featured below for her 2005 Sheffield Assay Office commission and highlighted the Britannia silver with 22 carat gold.  This particular piece along with a further chased bowl is in proud possession of the Sheffield Assay Office collection and is regularly used or on display in the reception. Katey was so committed to the Starter Studio programme that she continued to assist and mentor new participants whilst setting up her own studio within Yorkshire Artspace, where Katey remained until a few years ago.

Centrepiece, Britannia Silver and 22 carat gold plate, designed and made by Katey Felton in Sheffield 2005

Katey was heavily involved in the Galvanize Sheffield – Festival for Contemporary Metal and she always put herself forward for events. Her work was included in a wide range of exhibitions across the city and she gave wonderful talks and was involved in luxury high end events involving her drinking vessels, her disco ball inspired cocktail set at the Mercure Hotel in Sheffield City Centre was a fabulous occasion.

Photographer/ Copyright Bill Burnett for Goldsmiths Craftsmanship & Design Council

Katey also produced the last punch cup to join the prestigious Millennium Punch bowl currently displayed in The Sykes Metalwork Gallery, Millennium Gallery. This particular item was also the very last piece to be hallmarked at Portobello Street before the Sheffield Assay Office moved to its new premises in Hillsborough in 2008.  

  

Katey also designed and worked with Hendersons Relish to produce a cap and saucer for the spicy Sheffield sauce. A limited edition of these were produced and laser hallmarked at Sheffield Assay Office bearing her sponsor mark.

Katey was a regular exhibitor at Goldsmiths Fair, London.  Her signature work of chasing adorned many drinking vessels, cufflinks, vases and these were presented to a number of VIPs, including world leaders at a G8 summit and their wives, among them Cherie Blair. Her work is seen in many private and public collections including Sheffield Assay Office, Sheffield Museums Trust and The National Trust’s Nostell Priory in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. And within the private quarters of Chatsworth, she made many items for the The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.  

Katey Felton was indeed one of the leaders of a new generation of up and coming silversmiths based in Sheffield.

Our Assay Master, Ashley Carson said;

"Katey was intelligent, hardworking, funny and glamourous, always fashioning something she had made; be it a pair of earrings or her unique silver clutch bag. She never forgot her roots, was so down to earth as a person. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her personally, professionally as a silversmith, she was in deed a special friend to the Assay Office."

From all of us here at Sheffield Assay Office, we extend our deepest condolences to her husband Richard, her parent’s Bev and Dave and extended family and friends. 

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The Sheffield Assay Office was established in 1773, under an Act of Parliament and today the company assays and hallmarks the precious metals - silver, gold, platinum and palladium. Sheffield Assay Office is one of only four UK assay offices who all work to uphold the Hallmarking Act of 1973 and continue to ensure consumer protection for customers purchasing precious metals.

To find out more about the whole range of services offered by Sheffield Assay Office, such as our hallmarking and analytical services, please email us at info@assayoffice.co.uk or complete the contact form on our website at http://www.assayoffice.co.uk/contact-us ,

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