Design, Communications, Research & Craftsmanship

Karin Paynter is a collaborative, creative and cultural leader, designer and advocate for British craftsmanship, with over 30 years of national impact. She has a deep commitment to design excellence and the preservation of professional craft skills, elevating the role of jewellery and silversmithing in national storytelling, public policy and international reputation.

Trained vocationally as a silversmith at Medway and with a Masters in Design from the Royal College of Art, Karin has a particular interest in the future of silversmithing and has led imaginative national campaigns and strategic initiatives that support the continued growth and innovation of the craft through partnerships with institutions such as the V&A, the Goldsmiths’ Company, the Silver Trust Collection at 10 Downing Street and Christie’s.

Among her major projects, Karin played a key role in the creation of the Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell and in the relocation of renowned silversmithing school Bishopsland to a National Trust property, securing its future in a heritage setting.

Clients include leading cultural institutions and independent makers, such as the Goldsmiths’ Company, Serpentine, the Courtauld, trade associations, emerging businesses and master craftspeople. She is trustee of the newly formed Goldsmiths’ Foundation, a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths’ Company and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.

Reflecting her broader commitment to systemic change and equity in the arts, she is also Director of ERA5050, a high-profile campaign for equality on British stage and screen, credited with advancing the representation of women across UK media.