Ironbridge Fine Arts

Elena is one of the wonderful customers whose artwork we have enjoyed framing and seeing her artwork come to life. It’s been a delight working with her and seeing the beautiful pieces that she has created for her PhD. We sat down with Elena to discuss her work and how our framing and mounting services helped bring her visions to life.

What brought you to Ironbridge fine arts?
“I needed to get some work framed for my practice-based PhD and I wanted to use a local framer. I have used Ironbridge fine arts in the last year for some work and was really impressed with the care and attention they give to helping choose frames, mounts, and glass.”

How did your journey into being an artist begin?
“I have been a freelance artist for many years. I completed my BA Fine Art degree in 1993. I then went on to complete an MA Fine Art qualification in 2019 and I am now currently undertaking a Phd. I have exhibited all over the UK and worked on many projects in the public realm. I have been a mentor for emerging artists, acted on advisory boards and I am now pursuing a teaching career alongside my own practice.”

How would you describe your artwork?
Elena Cassidy Smith Blog with Ironbridge Fine Arts“I am a live and visual artist whose work is concerned with site contextual or site-responsive situations that are sensitive to time, place, and people. My work often examines the overlooked and obscure, tapping into oral histories, collective understandings, and forgotten truths. I create narrative interventions that invite audiences to participate, comment and create. My work often sets up humorous or subtle paradoxes in the everyday and mundane and seeks to be a playful intervention in unexpected places.”

“I use a variety of materials in my work, with paper, textiles, and old objects being consistently used to explore ideas. My work is often sculptural, but I also incorporate film, photography, poetry, and performance into creating pieces.”

How do you plan to take your artwork forward?
“My practice-based PhD is exploring the ontology of time. I am investigating temporal experience and temporal phenomenology through the lens of the philosophy of physics, theoretical physics and the social sciences. This enquiry has strengthened my research skills, stretched my artistic practice and broadened my understanding of transdisciplinary approaches to identifying new knowledge.”

What would you say about the Framing, Giclee Printing and scanning services at Ironbridge fine arts?
“The services at Ironbridge fine arts are wonderful. Sarah and her team have been so helpful and have really understood my framing needs. I strongly believe in using local services where possible and I am fortunate to live so near these wonderful framers.”

What would you say to someone who is thinking of using the services at Ironbridge Fine Arts?
“The framing is to a very high standard and the advice given when consulting about the choice of frame is excellent. The choice of frames, mounts and glass is so impressive. I would highly recommend the services.”

Elena Cassidy Smith Blog with Ironbridge Fine ArtsvHas the Ironbridge Fine Art’s team helped to elevate your artwork using the creative ways of bespoke framing and mounting a piece?
“Absolutely! Sarah has been so very helpful and knowledgeable about framing my unconventional pieces. Her expertise has been greatly appreciated.”

How can our readers find Elena?

instagram.com/elenacassidysmith

www.linkedin.com/in/elena-cassidy-smith