An avid interest
in the environment and organic forms heavily influences my work. My pieces
are visually pleasing and, thanks to a variety of textures, tactile too.
I work mainly in
silver, but subtle addition of 18 Carat gold, semi precious stones and beads
add touches of light and colour to many of my creations.
I first started
making jewellery in 1995 while living and working in Portugal. Returning to
the UK I studied a LOCF course in jewellery design at Chelsea College,
London, lead by Tim Carson.
Since relocating
to Brighton in 1999 I have exhibited in the annual May Festival and
Christmas ‘Open Houses’. My work is also available in a selection of
galleries countrywide.
I have focused
solely on my jewellery business since 2005 and now exhibit at numerous craft
and design fairs across the country. My next public fair is ‘Desire’ in
Kensington, London, 15-17 March.
I have also
continued my studies, first with an HND at the Guildhall, London, followed
by a City & Guilds course in Jewellery and Silversmithing and Fine Jewellery
(Advanced Level) at Chichester College.
Allure Jeweller of the
Month during November
and December 2012
1952 Born North Wales
EDUCATION
1969
Flintshire School of Art 1971-74 Loughborough College
of Art and Design (B.A. HONS) Silversmithing and Jewellery
AWARDS
1979 West Midlands Arts
Workshop Grant 1993 West Midlands Arts Grant
for Chelsea Crafts Fair 1996 The Ted Mahoney Award
for Best Traditional Product B.C.T.F. 2001 West Midlands Arts
Creative Ambition Award to attend Inhorghenta Munich 2002 West Midlands Arts
Creative Ambition Award to research applying ceramic
transfers to enamels 2006 Winner of The Kayman
Award for a collection of silver jewellery sponsored by the
BJA 2007 Commendation Design &
Craftsmanship awards Goldsmiths’ Company
PART TIME
LECTURING EXPERIENCE
1974-79 Mid Warwickshire
College of Further Education 1975-79 Lanchester
Polytechnic, Coventry 1988-90 Mid Warwickshire of
College Further Education 1990-92 East Warwickshire of
College Further Education 1991 Demontford University,
Leicester 1991-94 Coventry University
RECENT
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2004
Jewellery Unlimited ACJ Bristol 2006 ‘Origin’ London Craft
Fair, Crafts Council 2009 Dazzle, Glasgow 2008 Art in Action, Oxford 2008 Dazzle, Edinburgh 2008 ‘Origin’ London Craft
Fair, Crafts Council 2008 Dazzle, Manchester
(Christmas)
2008
'Fired Up' The Scottish gallery, Edinburgh
2008
Bowie Gallery @ Hay on Wye
2008
Liverpool Design show
COLLECTIONS
Leamington Spa Art
Gallery and Museum
Stafford Museum and Art Gallery
Shugborough Hall
Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery
Liverpool Art Gallery and Museum
MEMBERSHIPS
B.S.O.E. Full member
& selection committee
D.J.G. Full member
A.C.J. Full member
B.J.A. Full member & committee member
COMMISSIONS
1996
Tony Blairs’ Christmas gifts 2001 Major project for The
British Museum 2001 Opened a contemporary
jewellery gallery in Leamington Spa 2004 Judge for the British
Jewellers Association @ Harrogate British Craft Trade Fair
2009 closed
gallery and moved workshop to home
2009 a collection
of jewellery for the 'Shah Abbas' @ The British Museum'
The process begins in my sketch book. I then draw the
designs on a computer in solid black and white and arrange
them economically on a sheet, the black areas being silver.
I send this with a sheet of sterling silver to a company who
photo etch the design onto the metal so that the white areas
of the design become recessed. I then cut out the seperate
pieces, file and finish the edges and fill the recesses with
opalescent white enamel which is fired at 800 degrees. The
excess enamel has to be ground back using a diamond abrasive
before each piece is then refired to glaze the surface. Then
I apply a transfer and the piece is fired once again and
more transfers may be applied to create a layered affect.
The reverse of the piece is then finished and findings, such
as brooch joint and catch, are soldered on. Finally the
piece is oxidised (blackened) and polished.
Allure Jeweller of the
Month during September
and October 2012
'My new work
‘Vincent’ is named after one of my heroes Vincent Van Gogh. Having used
muted colours for a while, I wanted to use brighter colours this year and
the enamel colours used are very much influenced by Van Gogh’s use of vivid
colour.
I have long admired Vincent Van Gogh’s work. I feel that he has been a part
of my life since I was very young. As a child, my eye was drawn especially
to the vibrant colours and the way his images seem to move with their
swaying skies and 3D layers of paint.
So, after almost 30 years I am paying my own homage to the great man. '
Cath Hill 2012
Karen Thomas is a jewellery designer and maker, originally from the
Midlands, who has been living and working in York for over fourteen years.
She graduated from the Birmingham School of Jewellery (UCE) in 1998 with a
BA(hons) degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing. She has worked in a busy
trade workshop and taught jewellery making at a local college and school,
while also producing her own designs. She now concentrates solely on
creating her beautiful, wearable ranges of jewellery, limited editions,
one off pieces and commissions. She uses traditional jewellery making
techniques; mainly working in silver, sometimes in gold. She sells her
work through galleries across Europe.
“I
love the process of creating functional, wearable pieces of jewellery, be
it constructing a mount for an unusual stone or handcrafting a master,
making a mould and running off waxes in order to generate cast units so I
can produce ranges of silver jewellery that are affordable.”
“My
designs are inspired by the world around me. Whilst studying in Birmingham
many of my pieces echoed the city’s industrial past. Now in North
Yorkshire I take inspiration from the landscape and its colours. I am
particularly drawn to the natural forms of the dramatic North East
coastline. This is clearly evident in my Silver Shell Collection which
comprises four ranges created with solid silver castings made using moulds
of actual shells. Also the chunky claw set Pebble Collection which
celebrates the natural beauty of the shapes and colours of the seashore.
In contrast, living in the beautiful, historic city of York has also had
an impact on my work, some of my designs reflecting the shapes and forms
seen in the magnificent architecture.”
Shoreline necklace,
oxidised silver and 9ct gold
cockle shell
earrings, silver and 9ct gold
Sand pendant,
silver and gold plate
SHIRLEY SMITH
FROM
11 MARCH UNTIL MAY 2012
My work has always been influenced by found objects. A
beachcombing ’addict’, my latest collections reflect my fascination with the
eclectic detritus to be found on the shore-line. Eroded pebbles, scraps of
rusted metal, fragments of shell and strands of sea weed along with other
found objects are translated into a range of jewellery that is characterized
by simple shapes and subtle textures.
I mostly
work with silver, adding various carats of gold for colour and detail. Some
of my work is gilded with 22ct gold. Other pieces use an ancient Korean
technique called Keum Boo, which sees pure gold foil burnished onto the
silver to produce a permanent bond. I frequently oxidise silver to provide
a dramatic contrast against the gold.
Most designs are
made in limited editions, with additional one off pieces being produced for
exhibitions or as commissioned items.
YEN
FROM 7
DECEMBER UNTIL 20 JANUARY 2012
Yen Duong is the founder and designer
of Yen Jewellery. She remains uncompromising in her passion for distinctive
jewellery since establishing the company in 1996 and continues to uphold her
design ideals. By experimenting and reinventing her work, she maintains a
freshness and energy while retaining the essence that gives distinction to
the Yen Jewellery brand.
Yen has worked from her Bloomsbury
studio for 15 years, exploring jewellery beyond traditional conceptions
making her work exciting and rich in depth. She sells directly to her loyal
customers from her London studio through a range of prestigious exhibitions
and galleries such as Sotheby’s, The Goldsmiths’ Company, The Fine Art
Society and The Crafts Council. The Yen Jewellery collection has sold
through retails stores including Liberty of London, Selfridges and Harvey
Nichols.
