Meet the Artists

Steven B. Wardle

Steve, a second generation Goldsmith, began his training in the late nineteen sixties at the elbow of his father, Alfred H. Wardle, Professor of metalwork at the Munson Williams Proctor Institute in Utica, New York. There he absorbed the finesse that his father used in silversmithing and jewelry work. Steve later became his father's assistant instructor at the Institute. A BFA from The Rochester Institute of Technology's School of Fine and Applied Art followed. After Graduation, Steve entered into partnership in The Gold Mine, Inc., a fine jeweler and manufacturing establishment that is now enjoying its twenty-second year in New Hartford, New York. He has built quite a following of custom design work customers who have sought him for his natural forms and inventive design solutions.

Barbara W. Knowlton

Barb received her BFA and MS degrees from Syracuse University's School of Visual and Performing Arts. Her career has consisted of more than a decade of the instruction of fine art and ceramics. She has more recently been applying her creative color skills to jewelry design. Her color sense makes her very popular with her clients. Barb's other passion is the coaching of swimming. She is an A.S.C.A. certified level four swimming coach and has guided many young people and teams to successful swimming careers. In 1994 Barb and Steve opened Forest Beach Design in order to do the work they love in the place they love. Barb and Steve, who are husband and wife, make their home in Chatham along with their daughter Whitney.