A JEWELLERY designer who set up an art venue in Harpenden is on a mission to awaken the town s creative side. Joanna Mason, aged 24, is a silversmith and jewellery designer and, after acquiring a studio in Harpenden earlier this summer, she decided to set

A JEWELLERY designer who set up an art venue in Harpenden is on a mission to awaken the town's creative side.

Joanna Mason, aged 24, is a silversmith and jewellery designer and, after acquiring a studio in Harpenden earlier this summer, she decided to set up her own business, The Albion Arts, to teach people the tricks of her trade.

Joanna, who lives in Borehamwood, offers a programme of art workshops for adults at The Albion Arts, with classes ranging from a junk jewellery day to biscuit tin jewellery and willow weaving at an average cost of �50 each.

Joanna said that she believed everyone has an artist within them: "Anyone can be creative and my workshops offer people the chance to explore that side of themselves. I'm striving to revive art and craft skills in Harpenden with The Albion Arts."

She added: "What I love about jewellery is the fact that you can wear your piece instead of hanging it up somewhere. I want people to take their art out of the gallery and on to the streets!"

Joanna, who studied photography at Bournemouth Arts Institute, has recently received funding from The Prince's Trust for The Albion Arts and said that, despite the current economic crisis, business was booming.

"The credit crunch has actually aided my business, because people who have been made redundant come along to the workshops in the hopes that they can learn new skills. Hopefully The Albion Arts will continue to flourish and I look forward to taking more and more classes.