Corin Mellor

Corin Mellor (born 17 December 1966) is a designer specializing in silverware, tableware and furniture. Son of the famous cutlery designer David Mellor he succeeded his father on his retirement in 2002 as Creative Director of the family owned manufacturing and retailing company David Mellor Design.

Early life and training

Corin Mellor was born in Sheffield and trained in product design at Kingston University. He worked for the London architects Yorke Rosenberg and Mardall before returning north to join his father in the family design firm. The David Mellor cutlery factory was at that time in Sheffield, moving to a new purpose designed building, the Round Building, at Hathersage in Derbyshire in 1990.

David Mellor shops and Design Museum

Corin Mellor has been closely involved in the David Mellor shops, the first of which opened in Sloane Square London in 1969. He has responsibility both for the design of the interior and the product selection and has himself designed and developed special ranges of kitchen knives, ceramics and glass, woodware and decorative accessories exclusive to the David Mellor shops. His latest cutlery design, named 'Chelsea' to commemorate the family's long connection with that area of London, was introduced in 2011.

Corin also designed the interior of the David Mellor Design Museum and Café at Hathersage in Derbyshire, working closely with the architect Sir Michael Hopkins. The museum won a Countryside Award for its design excellence in 2007.[1]

As creative director of David Mellor Design he controls all aspects of a specialist firm employing around 40 people and dedicated to design excellence over a whole range of related activities in design, manufacturing and retailing. In its commitment to design over a broad spectrum of activities the company is unique in the UK.

Special commissions

His earliest design commissions were for furniture. Corin Mellor’s public seating can be seen at the Lowry Gallery in Salford Quays, the Millennium Galleries and Winter Garden, Sheffield. He has recently completed a sculptural bench in galvanised steel and oak for the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth.

In 2008 Corin Mellor was commissioned to make a large scale Advent Wreath for Sheffield Cathedral, a spectacular piece of metalwork comprising a mass of vertical rods in stainless steel. From this developed a series of stainless steel candelabra for domestic interiors using the same structure. These pieces were shortlisted for the Blueprint Design Award 2008.[2] An exhibition of Corin Mellor’s decorative metalwork was held at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in 2009.

His latest architectural metalwork commission is a sculptural bridge link for the new Sheffield city centre building for Sheffield Hallam University. Recent silversmithing commissions include specially designed large scale silver bowls for H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and for Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Family

He is married to the photographer Helen Mellor and they have two children. In April 2009 The Independent newspaper described them as 'the first family of design'.[3] Corin’s mother is the biographer and critic Fiona MacCarthy. His sister, Clare Mellor, runs her own graphic design firm.[4]

Public appointments

Corin is a member of the Board of Museums Sheffield. He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and a Freeman of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire. In 2013 he was made a Guardian of the Sheffield Assay Office.

References

  1. ↑ Peak district View web site
  2. ↑ 100% design
  3. ↑ Made in Britain: At home with the first family of design, Charlotte Philby, The Independent, 25 April 2009
  4. ↑ Full Stop Design

External links