Noel Quigley, Art and Crafts, N Q Copper Craft
Noel Quigley is 53 years old or young, whichever you prefer, who was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. The part of Dublin he is from is known as the Liberties, which is one of the oldest parts of the city. Noel lives within a three-minute walk from the world-famous Guinness brewery and about 10 minutes walk away from Christchurch Cathedral; both of these places are very popular with tourists from all over the world. The type of arts and crafts he does is called copper embossing, and Noel first tried copper embossing about ten years ago after seeing a video about the craft on YouTube, then he found out where he could purchase the materials Noel needed to use to create these pieces and started practising. The pieces are all handcrafted with small pencil-like tools (no electrical tools used). Then a chemical is used to age the Copper and then polished by hand to finish the piece off.
Within a few months of practising, Noel became quite good and started to show my pieces to friends and give them as gifts to family, it wasn't long before he was being asked to sell them, and that's how he started. Noel created a page on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. He also has a shop page with Crafters of Ireland and another with Etsy; Noel has sold pieces to customers from America, Canada and other countries around the world as well as at home here in Ireland. Noel feels really honoured and proud of himself that people have seen his work and like it enough to purchase it. The response that people have when they receive their piece is priceless and inform him that the photos they see of his pieces do not do them justice as they say they look much better in hand. Noel really enjoys creating these copper pieces and take great care of detail. Noel has a wide variety of designs made and also love when customers create their own ideas for him to do.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
My personal favourite is Instagram because, unlike other platforms, there doesn't seem to be any gossip or BS; you can just show your pieces and give some details about it, then people can like and comment if they like it.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I really love to scuba dive, and I'm a qualified scuba diver, the level of training I'm at is TDM ( trainee divemaster).
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I love to create these pieces of Copper as each piece I create is one of a kind; even if I made ten pieces of one design, none of them would be the same as the other; that's the beauty of being handmade, there will always be a difference even if only slightly, but each piece is bespoke.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
All any of us can do is our best.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
Rita, my partner, best friend and reason for living.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
My children, not so far, but always.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Talking, face to face.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Just by been willing to try new things, if I can do it, I will give it my best.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
Everything.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
Myself because I'm not afraid to try my hand at new things.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Scuba diving.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
I would say positive because that's when I decided to open up the social media pages for my copper pieces. I had plenty of time to create loads of different designs.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Be prepared to spend hours and hours on each piece and be prepared to have very sore fingers, also. Do not mix your chemical (liver of sulphur) indoors.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
No patience.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"Nothing else matters."
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
None of them, I think all big companies, brands and institutions are all about making more money they can, by paying the lowest pay they possibly can to have their products made, for example (child labour). Even big charity organisations have plenty of very highly paid CEO and other costly employees taking huge cuts of the money that ordinary people kindly give to these charities.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
My idea of success is being paid for something that you love doing. Don't be judgemental of others as you don't know their story. Please be kind to all animals, even the ones that you might not particularly like.