Bermuda is one of those places that you can visit one million and six times and never fail to meet wonderful, interesting people.  The vast beauty that abounds throughout will also continuously amaze you.

On my third trip to the group of islands, I wanted to document the local art scene for my own reference and also to share with Etsy. The cruise ship I arrived on docked on the west end at King's Wharf, also known as the Royal Navy Dockyard.  The Dockyard is home to several main art staples in Bermuda, spanning multiple disciplines.  

The Bermuda Craft Market showcases Bermudian artisans who handcraft candles, ceramics, paintings, dolls, jewelry, miniatures, fiber arts, furniture, wicker, and more.  I was hugely impressed with Llewellyn Emery, woodworking craftsman, who creates astounding bowls, lamp bases, jewelry boxes, candleholders, and more out of local cedar.  


[Cedar crafts by Llewelyn Emery]

My next stop was the Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard.  The Centre has a gallery/retail space as well as resident artists' studios, where you can observe them work and purchase their creations.  The Centre opened its doors in 1984 and has always been a non-profit organization, born to foster and support local contemporary artists.


[Artist's studio at Bermuda Arts Centre]

Lynn Morrell is a Bermuda-born mixed media artist, concentrating in jewelry and textiles.  Her husband David Morrell is also a jewelry designer ,and they showcase together, exclusively, at the Bermuda Arts Centre.  The work of both Morrells is heavily influenced by nature, as is evidenced by the use of natural materials and the organic shapes that are repeated in the work.  


[Jewelry by Lynn Morrell]

[Wall hanging by Lynn Morrell]

Other artists that are currently showing at the center include Suzie Lowe, Julie Hastings-Smith, Angela Gentleman, Jonah Jones, Vaughn Evans and more.  

Finally, I stopped by the Dockyard Glassworks.  The Glassworks is an amazing interactive studio shop environment, open since 1999, co-owned by Toni Johns and Wendy Avery (collective experience of 39 years working with glass!).  

The glass blown at this studio is lead-free and colored with natural materials (metals, minerals, crushed pearls, etc.), odds and ends are reclaimed from the jewelry industry and recycled into the colorants used by the Glassworks.  

There are currently seven artists working at the studio including Tony Johns, Peter Zimmerman, Chrissie Howarth, Yuki Toyoda, Alan Avery, and Damon Simons.  The Glassworks specializes in both flamework (lampwork) and furnace blowing.

A position in apprenticeship program at Dockyard Glass is coveted by aspiring master glassblowers all over the world.  Chrissie hails from the United Kingdom, Peter from the United States, and Yuki from Japan.


[Chrissie Howarth working a fluted bowl]

I picked up the cutest little frog by Damon, a beautiful necklace by Yuki, and a flower vase by Chrissie.  I could have purchased the whole store, but that just would not have been practical!


[Pitcher and necklace by Yuki Toyoda]

If you ever visit Bermuda, make sure to explore the west end. For a small group of islands (with an area of 53.3 sq km), there is a rich collection of artisans and much to be experienced.

Further Reading:
Frommers Bermuda
Art Bermuda
Dock Glass

LusciousNaturals is a member of the Green and Clean Guild and purveyor of all natural bath & body products. For more interesting places, check out the other posts in our Etsy World Tour series.

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