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The Craft Edit

The Craft Edit February 2025

Mariam Syed / Photography by Susan Castillo

Mariam Syed / Photography by Susan Castillo

It’s been a bright start to 2025 for Scotland’s craft sector, with awards, historic appointments and new initiatives making headlines. 

Read on with February’s edition of  The Craft Edit. 

 

 

Mariam Syed Awarded Prestigious Bernat Klein Fellowship 

Textile designer and weaver Mariam Syed has been awarded the 2025 Bernat Klein Fellowship for a Scotland-based maker.  

Developed in partnership with the Bernat Klein Foundation, Konstfack University of Arts, Craft and Design (Stockholm) and Cove Park, this new initiative has awarded two fully funded fellowships to established textile designers based in Scotland and Sweden.  

Mariam’s Glasgow-based practice blends geometry, vibrant colour and architecture, drawing influence from Pakistani truck art and her background in mathematics. She views textiles as a form of storytelling, translating her cultural heritage into contemporary woven fabrics.  

To celebrate the fellowships, Cove Park will host a special one-day Symposium event on Saturday 8 March 2025 for textile designers, artists, curators and researchers interested in contemporary textile design and Bernat Klein’s legacy. 

 

Image: Diana Sykes / Photography by Carolyn Scott  

Diana Sykes Recognised in New Years Honours List  

Craft Scotland Board member Diana Sykes has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours list for her outstanding contributions to visual arts and craft in Fife. 

Diana’s work in previous roles leading Crawford Arts Centre and as Director of Fife Contemporary has helped to make Scotland’s craft sector the vibrant community it is today.  

In retirement Diana continues to share her expertise and commitment to craft as a voluntary board member of Craft Scotland and Off The Rails Arthouse in Ladybank.  

You can read more about Diana’s remarkable career in our journal article A Place for Craft: Celebrating the career of Diana Sykes.

 

Image: Joanne Lim / Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Assay Office

Edinburgh Assay Office Appoints First Female Deacon 

Joanne Lim has been announced as the new Deacon of The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh. Joanne’s appointment marks a significant milestone for the organisation as the first female Deacon in its 560-year history. 

Appointed at the Edinburgh Assay Office’s 2025 AGM, Joanne succeeds Tom Murray who served as Deacon for 13 years. 

Edinburgh Assay Office is the trading name of The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh. They are one of four government-authorised assay offices in the UK and have tested and hallmarked precious metal items since 1457.  

 

Image: Richard Goldsworthy / Photography by Gabriela Silveira 

Scotland-Based Makers Chosen for Future Icons Selects  

Katie Watson, Richard Goldsworthy and The Marchmont Workshop have been selected for the Future Icons Selects presentation at this year’s London Craft Week (12-18 May). 

Curated by Louisa Pacifico of Future Icons, Future Icons Selects will feature 60+ contemporary makers across their new venue 83 Rivington Street in the heart of Shoreditch. 

Katie Watson is a silversmith and jeweller inspired by the natural world. With silver as her canvas, she translates her drawings using the technique of chasing and repoussé. 

Richard Goldsworthy blends traditional and experimental techniques to create sculptural works in wood and cast metal exploring the fusion of contrasting materials. 

The Marchmont Workshop create handmade furniture including rush-seated chairs and dining tables that reflect a commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability. 

 

Image: Eve Balashova / Photography by the artist

V&A Acquires Work by Jeweller Eve Balashova 

The V&A has added design materials by Glasgow-based jeweller Eve Balashova to its collection. The acquisition includes concept sketches, colour tests, 3D-printed prototypes, OBJ files for her Transition Necklace and Fibre Brooch, as well as images and videos detailing her creative process and inspiration. 

Known for her innovative approach, Eve blends 3D printing with traditional handmaking techniques to create striking jewellery featuring geometric forms, seamless colour transitions, and lightweight flexibility. Each piece begins as a digital model before being printed, custom-dyed and set in handmade sterling silver. 

The acquired materials are now part of the V&A Designs Archive and can be viewed and handled upon request. 

 

Image: Claire Henry / Photography by the artist

Claire Henry to Open New Pottery Studio in Glasgow City Centre 

Ceramicist Claire Henry has announced she will be developing one of the railway arches in the city centre to become a new pottery studio, gallery and shop this spring. 

The new space will host workshops, exhibitions, pop-ups and collaborations with fellow makers - while also serving as a retail space for her wheel thrown pottery. 

Claire has worked in Glasgow for nearly 12 years, previously creating from her East End studio. Inspired by the Scottish landscape and urban environment, her work focuses on durability, function and form. 

The studio is set to open in early March 2025, with updates available via Claire’s Instagram. 

 

Image: Natalie McIlroy and Jo Pudelko / Photo courtesy of CSSJ 

New Project Seeks to Break Down Barriers to Jewellery Making  

The Central Scotland School of Jewellery (CSSJ) in Dunblane is excited to welcome their first cohort of supported students through Setting Inclusivity, a new project delivered in partnership with the Goldsmiths' Centre.  

Setting Inclusivity aims to tackle financial barriers so that more people can learn the traditional skill of jewellery making. This initiative addresses challenges like high costs, social exclusion and lack of access, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the benefits of jewellery and creativity.  

Jo Pudelko, CSSJ Director explained: “Our goal is to include a wider range of students, build stronger communities, and show how jewellery-making can connect people and improve well-being. By making these skills more affordable, we want to reach new audiences and highlight the value of hand-making skills.” 

This term, nine individuals are benefiting from the scheme, and applications for the next round of funding will open in March 2025. 

 

Image courtesy of The Design Trust 

New Resource Published for Makers Teaching Craft  

Patricia van den Akker, Director of The Design Trust has released a new handbook for makers who deliver workshops as part of their creative practice. ‘Teaching Creative Workshops in Person and Online’ offers advice, inspiration and practical information to help individuals develop their teaching skills and grow their workshops into a profitable venture. 

To celebrate the launch of the book, the Design Trust will also be running a Fire Starter Camp in London on Thursday 20 March 2025. This day event will be an opportunity to meet, connect with and be inspired by other professionals who teach their creative skills, alongside workshops and exercises to help develop your teaching practice. 

 

 

Send in your craft news!

We want to hear from you! Share your contemporary craft news for inclusion in next month's The Craft Edit. 

Contact the Craft Scotland team with more information, links, images and/or a press release via email hello@craftscotland.org. 

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