Silversmithing
& the Allied Crafts
Supporting Silversmithing & the Allied Crafts
Over three decades of work in British silversmithing & the allied crafts – from the bench to boardroom, from developing training initiatives to help support the next generation to shaping national strategy, what began as a passion for craftsmanship evolved into a mission to secure the future of one of the UK’s most distinctive creative sectors. My approach combines understanding and representing both the craftspeople’s perspective and the policymaker’s agenda. My belief is the future of silversmithing depends on alignment between craftspeople, institutions, policymakers and audiences and innovation in how it is presented to the public.
1990s to 2005: Craft Foundations
1990s to 2005: Craft Foundations
- Studied HND vocational silversmithing at Medway with Norman Bassant and Ian Calvert in the 1990’s before completing an MA at the Royal College of Art in 2000, continuing with silversmithing and exploring early CAD/CAM techniques.
- This led to a research assistant position at Edinburgh University and Edinburgh College of Art studying haptics in collaboration with Reachin Technologies, Sweden.
- I joined the Goldsmiths’ Company in 2003 as Assistant to the Director Technology & Training, supporting trade training and apprenticeship schemes and technical research. These years built my understanding of both the craftsmanship, artistry and the fragility of the silversmithing ecosystem.
- Secured government and support for sector-wide collaboration through GrowthAccelerator funding.
2006 to 2015: Building Networks and Public Awareness
2006 to 2015: Building Networks and Public Awareness
- Co-created modular training programmes for Contemporary British Silversmiths.
- Helped develop graduate and apprenticeship initiatives through the South House Workshop Trust.
- Conceived and delivered the national silversmithing campaign, Silver Speaks, including exhibitions at the V&A and 24 nationwide events – reaching new audiences and helping to reposition contemporary silver on the cultural map.
- Established the first live silversmithing demonstrations at the V&A, bringing the craft to life for the public.
Impact: Public engagement with contemporary silver reached new levels, and into multiple design and interior magazines and resulted in the headline ‘Silverware is back in Vogue’ in the Times newspaper. Achieved record sale at Bonhams for applied art with Kevin Grey’s Animus.
2016 to today: Strategy, Research and Sector Advocacy
2016 to today: Strategy, Research and Sector Advocacy
- Trustee and advisor to national craft organisations, ensuring long-term investment in professional skills training and innovation and supported Bishopsland’s move to a National Trust property.
- Co-Founded Silver Everyday in 2020 as a platform for research, advocacy and strategic development.
- Currently leading British Silversmithing: Understanding the Sector – the first comprehensive mapping of the UK silversmithing landscape.
Focus
Professional Skills Training
Ensuring the transmission of knowledge from master makers to new entrants.
Research
Establishing a data-driven understanding of the sector’s needs and opportunities.
Visibility
Raising public and institutional awareness of contemporary silver.
Impact
- Helped protect and preserve vital skills for future generations in silversmithing and the allied trades through developing training inititives and recording skills.
- Elevated the visibility of contemporary silver through landmark exhibitions and campaigns.
- Strengthened cross-sector networks between craftspeople, trade associations, museums, educators and funders.
Future
- Completing the research study on British silversmithing sector.
- Launching new resources and partnerships to support professional makers.
- Advocating for long-term investment and recognition of silversmithing and the allied trades as a vital part of the UK’s cultural economy.
My goal has always been to ensure that silversmithing in Britain doesn’t just survive but it thrives, evolves and inspires the public to own, commission and value.
“My aim has always been simple: to raise the visibility of our craft to the public and support the professional makers that support the sector.”
That ambition made headlines in the Telegraph in 2018 – ‘Silver is Back in Vogue’, as a result of the silversmithing campaign conceived and delivered in 2020, Silver Speaks, inviting Corinne Julius to curate the focal show at the V&A and developing 24 events nationally.
Background & Qualifications
Qualifications:
- BTEC HND (Distinction) Silversmithing Medway 1995, trained by trade silversmiths Norman Bassant, Ian Calvert, Bob May, Andy Putland and Brian Hill
- MA (Distinction) Royal College of Art, trained by David Watkins, Michael Rowe, Rebecca de Quin, Bob May, Andy Putland
- Awarded UK Government-backed Growth Accelerator grant in 2012 for developing silversmithing networks and skills training initiatives.
- Design Assistant and Production Manager, Tateossian London – 4 years
Experience:
Goldsmiths’ Company Technology & Training Department – nine years
- Goldsmiths Company Apprenticeship
- Live Masterclasses and Film Masterclass production
- Editor & Researcher, Technical Journal
- Goldsmiths’ Company (TAC) research papers
- Goldsmiths’ Centre senior management team
- Technology & Training Committee
Key Projects:
- Conceived and delivered Silvers Speaks programme in 2015 negotiating collaboration with the V&A and inviting Corinne Julius to curate the focal exhibition Idea to Object
- Selling exhibition for Contemporary British Silversmiths achieved highest ever sale of contemporary craft at Bonhams with Kevin Grey’s Animus.
- Introduced public silversmithing demonstrations to the V&A for the first time.
- Development of CBS Skills Training Programme and South House Workshop Trust
Current Project
British Silversmithing: Understanding the Sector
Research project to carry out independent, foundational research to help inform the sector’s future and provide evidence for the current challenges – work that will help capture where the sector stands today and how we can shape its future.
Please get in touch if you have any thoughts you would like to contribute.
Silver Everyday
Silver Everyday was conceived in 2020 with the aim of driving the conversation and developing a specialist toolbox of support and a platform for creative collaboration and to bring together professionals across the breadth of the silversmithing industry to explore and communicate needs to support skills and harness opportunities.
Key Projects
