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SHIMARA CARLOW Born in a
remote coastal area in West Cork, Southern Ireland in 1979,
a childhood fascination for collecting shells, stones, mermaids purses’,
feathers and pods found along the sea shore has been the inspiration
for my work.
While studying at Glasgow School of Art, I experimented with hand made
paper and silver as mediums for creating large sculptural pieces of
jewellery and smaller silversmithing pieces. My work has always been very
tactile and organic and the use of paper enhances this tactility and also
brings a light translucent quality to the pieces.
I began a residency at Bishopsland Workshops in South Oxfordshire in 2002,
where I spent two years. I used the opportunity to experiment with larger
scale silversmithing and to develop a range of silver and 18ct gold
jewellery.
My silversmithing range is all based on pod vessels; I create small and
large
pod vessels, bowls, vases and tableware. I use fine silver and 24ct gold to
create these pieces, which are all hand raised, from flat sheets of metal.
I use hammers and mallets to add surface texture and decoration to the
pieces, and acid to take the silver surface back to its natural white state.
The vessels are constructed to be free standing and off centre, giving them
a fluid natural quality.
Following a recent trip to Australia, I have created new ranges of both
silversmithing and jewellery inspired by my visit. These include "gum nut";
clusters of small pod and leaf vessels using 18ct gold, fine silver,
oxidised
silver and gold plate.
My jewellery has been inspired by natural forms, primarily seedpods and I
have created a body of work based on pod like structures. I use silver,
18 carat gold, silk paper and gum nuts to create my jewellery. Collections
include "Daisy", Acorn Cup", " Acorn Cup Wrap" and "Silver Acorn Cup Wrap".
These pieces are constructed from individual acorn cup and daisy units
assembled to create both large and small scale pieces of jewellery. The cups
are assembled to hang in long articulated chains or set in to intricate wire
structures that adorn the body.
New jewellery collections include "gum nut", neckpieces, rings and earrings
constructed from both silver and real gum nuts; "picture", a selection of
pendants and brooches using wrapped wire and small acorn cups assembled
in a silver frame; "honesty", whitened and reticulated silver ovals, which
resemble honesty leaves, constructed in to long articulated neckpieces and
bracelets. I have also developed both my silver and my 18 carat gold
"wrap rings" to include precious stones such as diamonds, pink sapphire,
aquamarine and pink and green tourmaline.
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BETH GILMOUR
Beth Gilmour trained as a
jeweller at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design,
achieving a first class honours degree in 2002. This led to winning
a design internship with Links of London.
She proceeded to the
Royal College of Art in 2003, to study for a Masters degree in
Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery,
graduating in 2005. During this time she had the chance to explore
conceptually; with both materials and processes.Experience in both
craft and fashion jeweller sectors led her to establish her own
studio at Cockpit Arts, Holborn in May 2008.
Experimenting with
unorthodox materials and translating them in to precious metals is
what defines Beth’s work. By combining her trademark surface
textures with unusual semi precious stones, and porcelain, she
creates beautiful, original, hand-made contemporary jewellery.
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KAREN THOMAS
Karen Thomas is a jewellery designer and maker,
originally from the Midlands, who has been living and working in York
for over ten 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 the country.
"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 cities
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. 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
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MARI THOMAS
Mari Thomas is a
designer jeweller. Working in precious metals her contemporary designs and
distinctive collections are influenced by the Welsh landscape, her cultural
heritage and the written word often taking inspiration from the works of
acclaimed poets Mererid Hopwood, Tudur Dylan Jones and Waldo Williams.
Creating jewellery
that is both individual and memorable her acclaimed work has been exhibited
nationally and internationally including London, Tokyo and New York
Winner of several
awards including the Gold medal in Craft and Design at the National
Eisteddfod of Wales she is also a selected member of Design Nation, The
Crafts Council and Goldsmiths Hall’s Who is Who in Gold and Silver.
Notable clients and
commissions include corporate gifts for The Welsh Assembly Government,
Collection of Jewellery for National Library of Wales, Madoc Award
Commission for the Sunday Times Hay Festival, The Bardic crown in 2006 and
2007 for National Eisteddfod of Wales, co-designer of the The Prince William
Cup for The Welsh Rugby Union, Wedding rings for private clients Actor Ioan
Gruffydd, Television presenter Sian Lloyd and Tim Rhys Evans MD of BBC’s
Last Choir Standing Only Men Aloud
In 2008, in
collaboration with colleague Nicola Palterman she launched a Designer
Jewellery Gallery at the Norwegian Church in Swansea where her workshop is
also now situated.
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NAOMI JAMES
Naomi was born and educated
in Sussex. She graduated in Jewellery at Middlesex Polytechnic and then
worked as an assistant technician at the Royal College of Art. After two
years as a self employed jeweller working at Jess James, W1, she travelled
in Thailand, Borneo, Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia, India and Nepal.
Since then she has worked as a self employed jeweller, and was manager of
the National Theatre Dazzle exhibition in 2001 and 2002.
Naomi has worked in a variety of materials since she started making
jewellery at the age of 14. She has always designed as she works, allowing
the making process to inspire the final design. Most of the pieces are made
using simple hand tools and she enjoys the fact that a lot of her jewellery
can still be made in this way.
She has frequently used embossing in her work. Earlier designs involved
piercing patterns into stainless steel which was then rolled with silver.
Recent work began with picking up feathers in the park with her young son –
she found that despite their delicate appearance they could be transformed
into a solid form by embossing into silver. She then experimented further
with dried flowers, leaves and leaf skeletons and found that an amazing
amount of detail was picked up on the silver, which she then complemented
with touches of 18 carat gold. Some designs include coloured semi-precious
stones.
Other elements of her work have evolved through experimentation with the
textures that can be achieved with hammering metal. She uses a variety of
hammers to create surfaces and marks that alter the way light is reflected.
She likes the feeling that the metal appears to have been aged by beating it
with a rusty hammer – like something that may have been dug up.
EXHIBITIONS
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1990-
2008 |
Annual Dazzle
exhibitions at:
London (National Theatre), Glasgow, Manchester, Edinburgh, Brighton |
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2008 |
Focus Case - Dundee
Contemporary Arts;
Rare Find - New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham |
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2007 |
Origin - The London
Craft Fair |
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2005 |
Pyramid Gallery, York;
The Craft Centre,
Leeds City Art Gallery |
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2003 |
The Gowan Gallery;
Mike Gell, Hereford |
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2002 |
Broughton Gallery;
Rufford Craft Centre; Wrexham Arts Centre |
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2001 |
Gracefield Arts Centre;
20/21 Gallery, Scunthorpe; Yorkshire Sculpture Park;
The Craft Centre, Leeds City Art Gallery |
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2000 |
Contemporary Craftsman,
Monmouth |
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1998 |
Paddon & Paddon,
Eastbourne |
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1997 |
Wrexham Arts Centre;
Shire Hall, Stafford; “Silver Darlings” Bonhoga Gallery |
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1996 |
Prima Vera, Cambridge |
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1995 |
“6 of Hearts”, Hugo
Barclay, Brighton |
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1994 |
John
McKellar, Hereford;
Maidstone Museum & Art Gallery |
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1993 |
Pyramid Gallery, York |
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MARTINA
FABIAN
I was born
in Germany and undertook an apprenticeship to become a Goldsmith. After this
I studied Metalwork and Jewellery in Hildesheim, Germany. I have lived and
worked in Oxfordshire, England, since 1998.
My work is inspired by nature. The offset position - the placing of the
stone setting or a pearl - also plays an important part in my jewellery. I
work mainly in silver with a structured rough surface and gemstones set in
gold as a fine contrast.
Whatever catches my eye inspires my work - purely for the pleasure and joy
it gives when designing, making and wearing jewellery.
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ANNIKA RUTLIN
Annika was born in Belgium, of a
Swedish mother and Norwegian father, and spent every summer of her childhood
returning to these countries to visit relatives. Inspired by the crisp bold
lines of these landscapes and the diversity of modern and traditional
designs there, Annika draws strongly on her scandinavian roots for
inspiration. A modern Stockholm based apprenticeship followed by a top
Degree in 3D Design, specialising in Jewellery and Silversmithing, has
moulded Annika's distinctive style, whilst giving her an amazing array of
skills from sinking to setting.
Before striking out on her own Annika gained valuable experience within the
trade, working first for a bullion dealers in Hatton Garden, and then for
contemporary jewellers Jess James in London.
Annika’s passion for jewellery means that she is continually broadening her
skills. In her quest to improve the breadth and quality of service on offer
she has, in more recent years, educated herself in the art of computer aided
design. This means that we can now produce lifelike renders and 3D images
for customers to view when commissioning more complex designs.
Awards
2006: Worshipful Co of Goldsmiths design commendation
Oct 03: Perles De Tahiti - UK Tahitian Pearl Competition
- 1st place Male Jewellery Category
- 3rd place Parure Category
Aug 97: New Zealand Wearable Art Competition Finalist, New Zealand
Jan 93: Swea Scholorship. Sponsors: Swedish Women’s Educational Association
Dec 92: Master Cutlers Book Prize for design. Sponsors: The Worshipful
Company of Cutlers
April 92: Highly Commended, Gold design Competition. Sponsors: The World
Gold Council
Dec 91: Award for design, Travel prize. Sponsors: The Worshipful Company of
Cutlers
June 91: 1st Prize Pewter Live Competition. Sponsors: The Worshipful Company
of Pewterers
Exhibitions
Sept 98-09 Yearly exhibitor at International Jewellery London (IJL) Earls
Court
Feb 99, 01, 03, 05 International Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham
May 00 Martin Hall Studio Exhibition, Brighton Festival
June/July 99 Jewellery Showcase, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield
Feb/March 99 Wedding Ring Exhibition, Primavera Cambridge
May 98 Harrogate British Craft Trade Fair
Sept 97 'Showing Off' Marle Place, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Apr 97 'Things that Fly' Exhibition, Skylark Studios, Wisbeck, Cambs
96-97 Exhibition of work at Serendipity Galleries, Anarcortes & LaConner,
Washington State USA
Nov 94-Feb 95 Exhibition of Jewellery & Silversmithing at Avalon, Mulberry
Fine Arts, B’ham
July 92 New Designers, The Business Design Centre London
Sept-Dec 91 Exhibition of Pewter work at Liberty's London
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