Graduate Collection
Back in 2018, I graduated from The Glasgow School of Art’s Silversmithing & Jewellery course with first class honours.
My collection took inspiration from the ancient past, I was looking at Kilmartin Glen, Argyll in particular, due to the myriad of stone circles, totem, carvings and burial sites in the area. I found the reoccurring shapes and pattern work interesting; the use of the circular form in both palm sizes rock carvings but also how these shapes were ambiguously mapped into the landscape. I was also inspired by the rhythmic markings that adored objects in the burrial hoards. These predominantly clay objects were said to be used everyday to hold grain, and were so precious they were decorated by hand and buried with their owners to carry into the afterlife. This got me thinking about how an object can possess value beyond their material. This theme seemed particular interesting in relation to jewellery. How could I play with material value in my designs? Can material posess value beyond the materials they are made from?
The exporation of material value lead me to find the other dominant factor of my degree show collection; the use of colour blue. Through research I discovered that blue pigment was once more valuable than gold. This was due to the rarity of finding lapiz lazuli and the laborious process of grinding down the mineral into a fine pigment that produces the alluring deep blue we recognise today. I love that a colour could hold this gravitas. Could this colour be used in my work to advocate the lutre and desire that you feel when looking as a solid gold ancient piece of jewellery?
I was very lucky to be able to take this work from Glasgow to London to be exhibited at new deisgnes. From there I was able to work with curators from Gill Wing Gallery in Islington and Diana Porter in Bristol who helped me shape my collections as you know them today, making them wearable and timeless to be treasured for years to come. Here is one of my first designs that have been best sellers since 2018.
You can shop the collections on my website which are now available in small and mini sizes as well as the originals.