found out she had a knack for it. That was followed by an advanced course at Bisazza headquarters in Vincenza, Italy, in 2008. Today, she has a reputation for stunning mosa- ic installs in the UK and on social media where her creations draw praise and admiration. Because there is no licensing requirement for residential installa- tion in the UK, after getting her Blue Skilled Worker CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) Card for Tiling, she did some commer- cial wall and floor installs. “I wasn’t enjoying general tiling, especially as tiles were getting bigger and heavier,” Taylor said. “After doing a few steam rooms I decided to drop the larger stuff and just push the mosaic work. It was a bit of a risk but it paid off. I’m self employed so why do something I don’t enjoy?” She visited a number of Bisazza suppliers showing her work and did her first steam room for a well- ness center contractor. “I did my first steam room for them in 2012, and still do work for them.” Although female tilers are rela- tively rare in the UK, she finds that some customers actually prefer tradeswomen, since “we’re seen as being more reliable, tidy and con- scientious etc.,” It’s also a benefit when dealing with the woman of the house in residential jobs, she discovered. A member of The Tiling Association (TTA), Taylor both cel- ebrated the 10 year anniversary of WOMEN IN TILE ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In 2017, Sharon Taylor was the first woman to be nominated and win The Tile Association’s Tile Fixer of the Year Award. Dave Rowley, training manager of Building Adhesives Ltd, and TTA board member presents the award. Amazing mosaic work in this steamroom by Sharon Taylor. Taylor created the pattern for this mosaic floor. 46 TileLetter | October 2018