Robert Welch

Who was Robert Welch?

Robert Radford Welch MBE, RDI was an English designer and silversmith. His philosophy was to create beautiful, functional, yet affordable products which remained true to their materials, and he endeavored to develop a shape and line for each that transcended fashion. His style helped define British modernism.

Welch was born in Hereford and brought up in Malvern, Worcestershire. He was educated at Hanley Castle Grammar School and while at school he briefly played cricket for the Second XI of Worcestershire County Cricket Club. His time at Malvern School of Art was broken up by two years of National Service, during which time he served as a wireless operator in the Royal Air Force. He attended classes at Cambridge School of Art and returned to complete his studies at Malvern in 1949-50.

Whilst he had undertaken metalwork classes at Malvern, he begun his training as a silversmith at the Birmingham College of Art, School of Silversmithing and Jewellery. Here he met, and later married, fellow student Patricia Hinksman.

He went on to study at the Royal College of Art in 1952, joining both David Mellor and Gerald Benney who were a year above him.