Barbara is a contemporary jewellery designer & maker, creating precious, desirable pieces 
from her workshop in the remote Scottish Highlands. Her designs are inspired by rich decorative patterns and forms from a bygone era which she combines with industrial processes to create a truly unique aesthetic.
Barbara set up her workshop in her home town of Lochinver in 2007 - the year she graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone Art College. She was awarded a start up grant from the Scottish Arts Council to get up and running
and since then has exhibited her work nationwide. Her work was recognized once again a year later by taking part in the Nesta Starter For Six Programme –a scheme to support the very best in Scotland`s innovative businesses.
Inspired by sources such as intricate lace work, architectural features from old buildings, vintage wallpapers/fabrics, Barbara aims to bring these elements into a contemporary setting. By adopting modern techniques, predominantly CAD work with photo etching – a process more commonly found in engineering, along with traditional techniques like stone setting, enamelling etc with a decorative aesthetic thrown into the mix, a hybrid of vintage and modern is achieved, resulting in a timeless piece of contemporary jewellery. Barbara also uses quite a modern fresh colour
choice to add to this. Working in this fashion means that the typical association of the use of technology of a minimal, cold, sterile aesthetic is broken
As far as the process goes, having confirmed a design by experimenting with decorative forms and components in a 3D modelling package, 2D vector artwork is the created in Illustrator. The shape and pattern created in this is then fully and/or partially photo etched from sheet silver as pictured. These decorative components are then pieced together using a variety of techniques to achieve a final piece.
Working remotely, Barbara finds the Internet an invaluable way of reaching people with her work both nation and world-wide. The web-site has been purposely updated with this in mind, which means you can be kept updated with latest designs, news and events etc.
Awards and selected Exhibitions to date
- 11/04/10 - 13/04/10 BCTF, Harrogate
- 20/02/10 - 19/03/10 Queens Gallery Dundee
- 16/01/10 - 30/01/10 "New Faces Revisited", Leith Gallery Edinburgh
- 07/11/09 - 16/01/10 "In The Spotlight", Leeds Craft and Design Gallery, Leeds
- 14/11/09 - 03/01/10 "Christmas Exhibition", Shire Hall Gallery, Staffodshire
26/09/09 - 16/10/09 "Homecoming Exhibition", Ceilidh Place, Ullapool
- 02/07/09 - 24/08/08 "Summer Collection", SDC Gallery, London
- 03/07/09 - 27/07/09 "Solo Show", Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
- 01/03/09 Selected for Nesta Starter For Six Programme
- 28/11/08 - 25/01/09 "Effervescence III", Barn Gallery West Dean College, Sussex
- 15/11/08 - 10/11/08 "Christmas Show", Designs Gallery, Castle Douglas
- 21/11/08 - 23/11/08 "MADE", Craft and Design Fair, Brighton
18/11/08 - 21/11/08 "STARS", Contemporary Jewellery Company, Central Gallery, London
22/09/08 - 19/11/08 "Bohemia", RBSA, Birmingham
- 05/06/08 - 12/01/09 Castle Gallery, Inverness
- 05/02/08 Awarded Licentiateship of merit of distinction from the Society of Designer Craftsmen
- 08/01/08 - 21/01/08 "Designer Crafts" Mall Galleries, London
- 22/11/07 - 10/01/08 "Christmas Show" Sarah Wiseman Gallery Oxford
- 22/11/0 Awarded Scottish Arts Council Start Up Grant
- 18/11/07 - 08/01/08 "Fresh", White Gallery, Dundee
- 15/11/07 - 20/06/09 "Christmas Show", Cherry Tree Gallery, Knutsford
- 24/10/07 - 04/01/08 "Winter Warmth", Callender House, Falkirk
- 29/07/07 - 29/09/07 "Festivals & Celebrations", West Kilbride Gallery, Ayrshire
- 25/07/07 B(des)hons degee in Jewellery and Metalwork from DOJ, Dundee uni
- 01/07/07 - 07/07/07 "New Designers", London
- 25/06/07 - Winner of Richard Farrow Gold Medal Award Commission
- 06/04/07 - Winner of Goldsmiths Precious Metal Award Bursary
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