Bio | The Enduring Art Of

Artist Bio

Much of Ben's life story, art progression and philosophy can be found in the many news articles that covered Ben's career. Some of those are included on this site in the Press section.

Ben spent his his early years in the small factory town of Bassett,VA, where he shared a one bathroom house with his parents and five sisters. He started drawing and showing artistic skills at a very early age. In high school, he worked as a draftsman for a local architect. When Ben was 17, he left for college in Chicago where he worked various jobs including drafting for Bell Labs.

In 1975 Ben opened a jewelry bead shop in Richmond, VA with his wife at the time who was also an artist, after making a trip to New York City. The shop carried exotic and global beads for making jewelry and decorative arts. Over time Ben's artistic interests transformed into jewelry design and metalsmithing. His skills evolved with course at Virginia Commonwealth University, Penland School of Crafts, and various workshops with James Meyer, Heikki Seppa and Arline Fish. As time progressed Ben spent endless hours developing his own independent style and unique jewelry designs. For several years he had a partnership with Creative Metalsmith in Chapel Hill, NC before settling into his own studio in Hillsborough, NC. He employed many assistants and mentored many there who have gone on to having their own businesses after working under Ben's wing. Through participating in fine art crafts and juried show throughout the country, Ben became one of the most highly respected metalsmiths in the country. Ben used hand forging and direct metal techniques for his work, which was all original designs and fabrications, hand made and produced in his studio.

Ben's jewelry was featured in such magazines as Art Jewelry Magazine, Ornament Magazine, and Art Style Magazine. Ben was a member of the Piedmont Art Council, the Carolina Designers Craftsman Guild, and a founding member and participant in the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths.

In 1993, Ben was chosen to participate in the prestigious Smithsonian Crafts Show. Later, Ben taught workshops at the Spruill Center for the Arts near Atlanta, the Sawtooth School for Visual Arts in Winston-Salem and the James Carter Studio for the Arts near Carrboro, NC as well as the Pullen Park Craft Center in Raleigh, NC. Ben relished being a mentor and passing on his passion and techniques to aspiring artisans.

In 2005, Ben received his diploma from Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine for acupuncture , a certification he had worked very hard towards for years. Metalsmithing continued to be his passion and lifelong career.

After retiring in 2018, Ben moved to Ajijic, Mexico, where he spent free time dabbling in urban art, and pastels.

In April of 2022 Ben was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and unfortunately, passed away in July 3, 2022, leaving behind his legacy of art and a lifetime of generosity and inspiration to others. His work will be passed on as heirlooms and treasured pieces of unique and one of a kind jewelry for generations to come.