Rambling 2021
Jewellery and 3D exhibition
26th June - 25th September 2021
This wonderfully eclectic show revels in the pleasure of rambling. The path never trodden before; those tiny treasures picked up along the way, the ever-changing landscape. Makers from across the UK come together in this exhibition to offer their interpretation of the natural world through the mediums of jewellery, ceramics and mixed media.
Image:Sarah Drew
Libby Ward
Libby's making process starts from looking at objects around her that have interesting textures, making a mould of this and creating that texture in resin, silicone or latex. Libby then manipulates the processes by adding materials, etching, coating, layering, stretching, heating and also breaking. She will work with a similar process to metals, although the main techniques she uses for this are etching textures or images on to the surface. Libby will carry on with this procedure until she has acquired a large body of unusual samples, to which she also adds strange existing materials that she has found or altered.
Sarah Drew
Sarah makes statement jewellery using found materials such as beach plastic, driftwood and sea-glass combined with eco-silver and re-purposed brass. Her ethos comes from a desire to use already existing resources to stop more being mined in ways that are dangerous to workers and harmful to the environment, as well as cleaning her local area (local beaches and post industrial land) of discarded plastic, ghostnet and rusty metal that is harmful for marine animals.
Eleanor Symms
Edinburgh based artist jeweller Eleanor Symms makes work which is unique sustainable and highly wearable. Eleanor’s work derives from a fascination with different types of materials, especially reclaimed plastics, which she finds and scavenges for use in her work. Often, her starting point will be the shape, colour or texture of something she has found; sea-worn plastics from the beach or scraps of waste sheet materials, which would otherwise be discarded. Combining non-precious and precious materials, Eleanor aims to make jewellery which is beautiful and intriguing, rather than purely decorative, questioning the nature of ‘preciousness’ and disposability.
Rebecca Burt
Rebecca Burt Jewellery is a Cardiff based designer/maker creating decorative feminine jewellery. Working with precious metals and stones, she forms abstractions of the natural world she sees around her. Rebecca's background is in textiles where she gained a degree in Textiles in Practice from Manchester School of Art in 2014. It is on completion of this that Rebecca began to transition into working with precious metals. The influence of this can be clearly seen throughout her body of work. Often working with a strong theme of pattern and decoration, she builds up surfaces much as you would embellish a piece of fabric.
Lucy Spink
Working in sterling silver and 18ct gold Lucy uses ancient techniques, preferring to use traditional tools; with their time and work-worn surfaces, from her Grandad’s workshop to keep her anchored to her inspiration. She hand textures and hammers each piece, allowing the marks to remain as an integral part of the surface. This shows how each piece has been formed providing a glimpse into the art of the jeweller, the craftsmanship and the time involved in creation. Lucy is largely self-taught, having spent time in the studio of Bruce Moutett in Trinidad and studying under Victoria Walker in Cornwall. A background in fine art (Glasgow Art School) and time spent outdoors walking each day in the beautiful local area (Cornwall South Coast), inspire and influence the way she crafts her jewellery.
Tania Covo
Tania's work uses found objects such as pottery shards from the banks of the Thames in London, and sea glass from the North East coast of the UK. She loves the history attached to the objects she finds and loves giving them new life as pieces of jewellery. Colour and pattern inspire Tania and she plays around with her finds until a combinations happens that needs to be captured. Tania currently works from her Somerset studio using traditional metalworking techniques.
Tina Macleod
After graduating from the Glasgow School of Art in 2015, Tina returned home to the West Highlands to set up her jewellery business. Being situated within a rural environment is an essential part of her practice. By designing through making, Tina creates pieces of jewellery deeply rooted in the Hebridean coastal landscape that evokes a sense of place and life at the edge. She utilises precious metal techniques that produce delicate but deliberate layers of surface texture and is able to convey a sense of the ephemeral nature of the living landscape.
Please note - the above images are representations of the work which will be provided and might not be the exact pieces featured in the Rambling exhibition. See our gallery photographs below for what we have in the show. If you want to find out more about a particular piece just get in touch, we're happy to help!
Hayley Hudson
Hayley is an artist who fostered her love of nature when she was just 14 years old. She was employed to pick and press flowers (very speedily) for a company that made cards. Although she hated that job the upside was the start of her love to preserve and collect and this is something which she has carried with her throughout her life. Hayley also spent 31 years here as Director of The Craft Centre and Design Gallery mentoring other designer/makers and honing her curation skills. Now Hayley pulls together these threads to create her flower and mixed media assemblages. Hayley gathers her materials from long walks in the countryside whereby the natural elements are then combined with stitching, embroidery and crochet.
"If I can encapsulate my passion within my work to fill someone else's soul, then I will feel that I have achieved something within my long journey."
Jane Bevan
Jane is an artist who uses natural and found materials, particularly bark, thorns and twigs, which she gathers on daily walks in local woodlands. Jane carefully selects her materials and then use traditional techniques of tying, stitching, twining, coiling and binding to make small sculptures and vessels. She is particularly passionate about English woodland and spends much of her time walking, sketching and collecting materials outdoors. Jane hopes to imbue her work with something of the essence and atmosphere of those places she visits, through the materials, textures, colour and forms.
Emmeline Butler
For Emmeline it’s all about texture; you have to feel it to fully appreciate it. She simply loves the feel of clay when throwing, and enjoys the rhythm of the wheel. Throwing also demands a focus that concentrates the mind and blocks out other distractions, which she finds is calming in an ever more hectic world. Emmeline's love of nature, the countryside and the beauty of its many textures has a great influence on her work. Cracked limestone pavements, tree bark and dry exposed peat, are reflected in the surface patterns of her work.
Susie Vaughan
Susie produces traditional woven baskets using unconventional materials. Whilst most baskets are made from willow, cane, rush or bamboo, it is quite possible to make a basket using a surprising variety of natural materials, which is what Susie strives to do. None of the materials in the baskets are dyed, they are all the natural colours of the barks of many different species.
Juliette Hamilton
Juliette originally trained at Manchester Metropolitan University in Textile design, gaining a BA Hons specialising in weave. She first explored the potential of willow after partaking in a a college course having no idea that it would be her future career. Juliette started her willow business in 2008 by simply saying yes to everything, teaching at Arley Hall and selling at the newly emerging artisan markets. She now runs a successful business taking regular commissions, stocking galleries and running workshops.
Lil' Rabbitfoot
Samantha Yates is a stained glass artist based in Shipley, West Yorkshire, using the pseudonym Lil' Rabbitfoot. Her Botanical pieces are rich in individual character and both naive and fun, revealing her appreciation of the natural environment, the simple beauty of nature and the happiness it can bring. Working with both copper foil and traditional lead techniques she playfully explores the limitations of her materials and techniques, presenting glass to the light through different botanical forms, patterns and structures.
Blue Leaf Ceramics
Kim Donaldson, the name behind Blue Leaf Ceramics, works from the Idyllic setting of a farm just outside of Bath, as well as producing her own functional ceramics, Kim delivers a range of creative workshops for all ages.
Nut Nut Designs and Makes
Tasha, who works under the name of Nut Nut Designs and Makes, has a love of plants, paint and wood. It is this curious combination which led Tasha to start developing wooden products such as timber planters, vases, vessels and bowls. Her products are made from local, reclaimed or sustainable timbers. Embracing the natural features of the wood whilst complimenting with a splash of colour is an important part of her process. Tasha's colour palette is inspired by the beautiful Devon landscape; whether this is the moors or the sea, she has a colour to represent all the places she loves to ramble.
Ann Povey
Ann created cutlery, tools and utensils, utilising found objects as handles. The cutlery and tools are made from copper or sterling silver and are enamelled, textured and oxidised, therefore rendering them impractical for everyday use but giving them a new role as a piece of decorative art that will, hopefully, prompt an emotional response. The ceramic pieces that Ann creates are handbuilt using the coiling method from a smooth stoneware body. They are glazed and decorated with decals and gold lustre and often given an old, found lid or handle to embellish them further. Ann has learnt not to disregard simple emotions and not to discard simple objects; all have a place and a story to tell.
Please note - the images above are representations of the work which will be provided and might not be the exact pieces featured in the Rambling exhibition. However, if you see anything from our gallery snaps below you'd like to know more about just give us a call or send us an email.
