March 2024

Scotland-based jewellers shine bright this month, excelling at the Goldsmiths' Craftsmanship & Design Awards and making waves at Munich Jewellery Week, whilst Deeside artists and makers rally to support a beloved arts venue. 

Read on with March's The Craft Edit. 

The Goldsmiths' Craftsmanship & Design Awards 2024

Congratulations to Anna Gordon, Sheng Zhang, Caius Bearder, and Katie Watson, who each received multiple awards at the Goldsmiths' Craftsmanship & Design Awards this month.

Held at Goldsmiths' Hall in London and presented by the Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council, the awards promote excellence across British jewellery, goldsmithing and silversmithing.

Anna Gordon, head of silversmithing and jewellery at The Glasgow School of Art won the Silver Award in the ‘Conceptual Jewellery Section’, Bronze Award in the ‘Jewellers Craft Senior Section’ and Gold Award for 2 separate pieces of work in the ‘Wire Innovations Section’.

Sheng Zhang, currently an Artist in Residence at The Glasgow School of Art won Bronze and Silver Awards in the ‘Silversmith Design Section’, Silver Award in ‘Silversmith Senior Craft Section’ and both Bronze and Silver Awards in ‘The Cloth Workers Section for Handcrafted Silverware’

Silver jewellery designer, Katie Watson, based in the Scottish Borders, won the Bronze Award in ‘Chasers Senior Section’ along with a Special Council Bursary Award.

Caius Bearder, also an Artist in Residence at The Glasgow School of Art won both the Bronze and Silver Award in the ‘Junior Engravers, Die Sinkers and Steel Engravers 3D Craft Section’.

Dundee Design Festival Returns in September

Starting from 23 Sep 2024, the theme for the fifth Dundee Design Festival is 'Multiplicity'. Over 100 designers and makers will showcase their work, exploring a wide range of contemporary design ideas and practices.

Curated by Local Heroes founder Dr Stacey Hunter, the festival will be held at the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, an iconic venue that has rarely been accessible to the public. The programme will feature local, national, and international elements that showcase the diversity of design.

Dundee will celebrate its tenth year as a UNESCO City of Design in 2024. The upcoming design festival programme aims to cement the city's identity as a hub of creativity and innovation.

Follow the festival's Instagram account to stay updated on this year's programme. 

Image: the Barn / Photo courtesy of the Barn

The Barn Launches Fundraiser

Barn Art Aid is an initiative launched by the Barn, in Banchory (Aberdeenshire) to help overcome its current financial challenges.

The Deeside creative community of artists and makers have united to support this 30-year-old arts venue by generously donating their work for sale, with all proceeds going directly to the Barn charity.

Makers including Lynne Hocking, Emma Louise Wilson, Jonathan Rose, Fenneke Wolters-Sinke and Le Petit Moose have contributed work to the cause.

During these challenging times, Barn Art Aid will provide crucial support to the Barn whilst offering buyers a unique opportunity to own a beautiful piece of art, all while supporting philanthropy and creativity.

The artworks on sale can be bought online via eBay or in person, from the Barn.

Image: Heather Woof / Photography by James Robertson

Scotland-Based Jewellers at Munich Jewellery Week.

Jewellers Heather Woof and Andrew Lamb both exhibited their work for Galerie Handwerk at Munich Jewellery Week this month.

The exhibition ‘Jewellery All Along The Line’, features 55 exhibitors, both regional and international. It explores how the origins of jewellery - a string - developed a wide variety of meanings and forms, continued in an unbroken line through the history of humanity.

In Andrew’s Optical Gold necklace, he references visual illusion and optical principles in jewellery. His work echoes the perfection found in nature, tempered by the shifting patterns of how we see and perceive the world.

Heather’s ‘Slinky necklace’ is characterised by her signature simple aesthetic and love of pattern. Heather took inspiration from observing nature to create a piece of jewellery that strikes a balance between simple form and subtle detail.

The exhibition at Galerie Handwerk continues in Munich until 13 Apr 2024.

Image:Graeme McColm Moonstone Ring / Photography by SH Jewellery

Sarah Hutchinson Introduces Pre-Loved Contemporary Jewellery at her Morningside Shop

Jeweller, Sarah Hutchison, who runs SH Jewellery in Edinburgh’s Morningside has launched a new venture specialising in pre-loved contemporary handmade jewellery.

‘A Chance to Sparkle' is a business concept that caters to the growing consciousness of the need for more sustainable and socially responsible practices within the jewellery industry.

Sarah believes that her background as a silversmith and her experience in selling contemporary jewellery give her the credibility that consumers look for when purchasing second-hand jewellery. Her new business idea offers pre-loved pieces that are often in 'like new' condition, which embodies the concept of a circular economy while also giving the jewellery a new lease of life.

Follow on Instagram or visit the online shop.

Image: Joshua Williams / Photography by Shannon Tofts

Spring Fling launches this Year's Programme.

Spring Fling announces their 2024 programme with largest open studios to date. Taking place from 25-27 May with a record 104 studios taking part, Spring Fling 2024 will provide a brilliant opportunity to explore makers and artists across Dumfries and Galloway.

This year’s programme includes Ceramics by Joshua Williams, Clare Dawdry, Fitch and McAndrew, Lizzie Farey, Woman of the Woods, Ruth Elizabeth Jones, Daniel Lacey, Jay Rubinstein and Rugaura.

Organised by Upland, the event will also offer the chance to explore virtual studios, and dedicated bus tours and cycle routes to take in the area’s creative talents and natural beauty.

Spring Fling runs 25-27 May 2024 in various studios across Dumfries and Galloway and online.

Image: Gillian Stewart /  Photography by artist

COVERED.DISCOVERED Exhibition 2024

Bookbinders Gillian Stewart and Tom McEwan are showing their work this month as part of a joint exhibition of fine bindings.

Presented by the Designer Bookbinders and The Society of Scribes and Illuminators, the exhibition showcases contemporary bindings, calligraphy, and lettering at the Crafts Council Gallery in London.

The exhibition is running from 13th Mar - 13th Apri 2024.

Image: Naomi Mcintosh / Photography courtesy of Collect 2024

Naomi Mcintosh Shortlisted for Brookfield Properties Craft Award

Congratulations to Naomi Mcintosh, one of the five talented makers shortlisted for the prestigious 2024 Brookfield Properties Craft Award.

Naomi is an interdisciplinary designer/maker based in the Cairngorms National Park, who uses her architectural background to create three-dimensional drawings, jewellery and sculptures to tell stories about the sanctity of the natural world. Naomi’s 'Sown' series was exhibited at Collect 2024 with Ruup & Form.

Marking the fifth anniversary of the prize this year, the Brookfield Properties Craft Award is presented to a maker who has displayed significant technique, narrative, and vision throughout their craft practice. Shortlisted makers are selected from those exhibiting at Collect presented yearly by Crafts Council.

The multidisciplinary maker Halima Cassell represented by Joanna Bird Contemporary Collections was announced as the winner of the coveted prize at Collect 2024.