QEST Magazine Spring 2012

Issue 25 Spring 2012 THE NEWSLETTER of the queen elizabeth scHolarship trust S UPPO R T I N G E X C E L L E N C E I N B R I T I S H C R AF T S M A N S H IP

Q E S T I S T H E C HA R I TAB L E A R M OF T H E R OYA L WA R R A N T H O L D E R S A S S OCIAT IO N

In this issue

Fortnum & Mason Exhibition

Talent for Hire

New Scholars

Women of Words

QEST

Scholar News

Fortnum & Mason give QEST a platform

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ortnum & Mason are marking the Diamond Jubilee in considerable style. As part of their celebrations, QEST scholars have been invited to participate in a selling exhibition to showcase British craftsmanship.

Twenty-two crafts will be illustrated ranging from bee keeping to wicker weaving.

“For over three centuries Fortnum & Mason have established a reputation for supporting British craftsmanship. We have always sought out and nurtured producers who value traditional skills and methods of working,” said Beverley Aspinall, CEO of Fortnum & Mason. “We have invited the

product ranges and buying trends within different markets has been incredible.”

“All the QEST scholars definitely rose to the challenge,” said Rosalind Howells, buyer at Fortnum & Mason. “We had to assess what they made and how to make it appeal to our customers through developing a product range. Regrettably we were limited by space restraints as there were so many stunning designs. We have a good cross section of what QEST represents from leather artefacts through surfboards to inlaid tea caddies.”

“Rosalind’s comments have been extremely valuable to my growth as a designer, I am so grateful for the time that she has invested in me,” said Suzy Merrifield, knitwear designer.

Deirdre Hawken changed her career from making costume props for the theatre to millinery at the age of 54. She has since carved a niche

Deirdre Hawken Fortnum & Mason Eau De Nil Hat

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust to help us curate this eagerly-awaited selling exhibition entitled, ‘Crafting Excellence’. Thirty-two QEST scholars present their crafts at Piccadilly, which range from millinery and fresco painting to saddlery and basket making.”

QEST: Crafting Excellence opens on 6th February until 29th July 2012. QEST scholars will provide an insight into their crafts at a series of events to be held within the store. www.fortnumandmason.com [events>spring events>crafting excellence] “It is a truly fantastic opportunity for us scholars,” enthused Hannah Griffiths, mosaic artist. “To show our work at Fortnum & Mason and have the possibility of being featured within window displays. To also have had the chance to sit with one of London’s pre-eminent buyers and discuss

for her witty interpretations of her headpieces. Each year she takes an eagerly awaited collection to Julie: Artisans’ Gallery in New York. Two of her creations are in the Victoria and Albert Museum. “When I visited Fortnums, I was immediately inspired to make the chocolate box – it has all the right components; their trademark colouring in the delicate packaging, the jewel colours of the chocolate foils; I couldn’t resist putting a couple of abandoned wrappers there too.”

Daniel Maier received his QEST funding to study the craft of gun engraving to enable him to incorporate the rich design within his fine furniture. He has designed a tea caddy which he has made in walnut, featuring inlaid metal engraving.

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Sophie D’Souza has made some spectacular stained glass windows in ecclesiastical settings. For this exhibition she has reduced the scale considerably and designed nursery themes from Alice in Wonderland into glass panels and light fittings. “I have really enjoyed the chance to look at what I do with different eyes,” explained Sophie, “and can envisage these being a much cherished piece for young children that they can take with them into adulthood.”

“This is going to be a wonderful event,” enthused Trevor Cain, a dolls’ house restorer, “where better to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the 2012 Olympics and the great work of QEST, but at Fortnums.” Trevor has been acquiring dolls’ houses of all ages for several years and these rare and fully restored houses will be offered for sale throughout the event.

The trend for handcrafted and handmade has never been more in demand. QEST is at the forefront of the movement and the exhibition will be the ideal time to acquire specially commissioned pieces to treasure for the future.

Our cover image is a Willow Pig made by Bob Johnston from boiled and stripped willow and will be available for sale at the Fortnum & Mason exhibition.

Sophie D’Souza Stained Glass Panel

Accolades for Scholars James Hamill, owner of The Hive Honey Shop in Battersea, received London Magazine’s Shop of Shops Award at a ceremony in the Burlington Arcade before Christmas. The magazine’s readers were asked to nominate their favourite boutique shops within six categories and James’ honey shop was on the shortlist for the best food shop along with many other established businesses. He was delighted to receive the overall award.

James has spent many years collating information from those who suffer from hayfever and has researched the pollen that is prolific in their areas. He has now developed a honey based product that will relieve the symptoms for those acute sufferers and his HayfeGUARD® was launched in January 2012. www.thehivehoneyshop.co.uk Three QEST scholars received a Balvenie Masters of Craft 2011 award: Deborah Carré’s bespoke shoe company carréducker was the winner in the leather category; Jacqueline Cullen was the winner in the stone category for her Whitby Jet jewellery and Gail McGarva was the runner-up in the wood category in recognition of her outstanding boat building skills.

As well as receiving the Balvenie Award, Jacqueline Cullen was selected as a craft entrepreneur by Crafted and received mentoring from Georgia Fendley, brand director of Mulberry. Crafted has been developed by Arts & Business and Walpole. This programme has been invaluable to Jacqueline as it has included new branding and packaging and new product lines, such as the 18ct gold granulation set with champagne diamonds and encrustations of tiny black diamonds, which will be available at QEST’s exhibition, Crafting Excellence, at Fortnum & Mason and can be viewed at: www.jacquelinecullen.com.

James Hamill

QEST

Scholar News Heritage in focus A new BBC Two series, Britain’s Heritage Heroes, is set to be broadcast in the coming weeks. It centres on our disappearing heritage and people’s efforts to ensure Britain’s crafts, culture and buildings remain part of our national way of life.

QEST helped with the initial research and is delighted that two scholars, Gail McGarva and Jill Smallcombe will feature in the final week of the series, a journey from Pier to Pier - Swanage to Newlyn.

I hope it inspires our viewers to go out and explore the wealth of heritage local to them.

Liam Keelan Controller of BBC Daytime

Jill Smallcombe was filmed at Burrow Farm where she demonstrated how to mix and build with cob using traditional tools and techniques.

As Burrow Farm is a 500-year-old cob house, she was able to describe how it was constructed in the 16th century and how those traditions had nearly died out by the middle of the 20th century. There is now a revival in the use of cob both for repairs to historic buildings and recently in new builds as well. “We love sharing our enthusiasm for cob,” said Jill, “and it is encouraging to see a new generation of young people taking on this fantastic craft.”

The filming of Gail McGarva’s hand built Lerret, Littlesea, being launched across the rugged pebble beach highlighted the importance of this unique vessel to the communities of Chesil Beach. The sequence has added poignancy as it serves to illustrate the necessity of preserving boat building by eye as well as the lineage of the Lerret, a boat that had not been built for over forty years. It was Gail’s tenacity, her QEST scholarship and mentoring by Roy Gollop that ensured it became a reality.

Gail McGarva Wooden Boat Builder

Talent for Hire

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oyal Warrant holders have access to the best of British craftsmanship through a directory of over 240 scholars, proficient in a variety of skills. Two scholars are currently enjoying a creative partnership with Royal Warrant holding companies.

Inspired by Elizabethan Style After graduating from Birmingham University in 1995 with BA Honours in Art History & French, Melissa White became an apprentice to David Cutmore, an expert in Elizabethan wall painting. In 2001 they established the Fairlyte workshop in Hastings on the Sussex coast. From their studio Melissa and David make and distress fresco secco paintings and paint

luxurious linen cloths on large stretcher frames, recreating the magnificent patterns of the Tudor age. In 2007 Melissa was awarded a QEST scholarship and it was through QEST that she was introduced to Zoffany and was invited to design the company’s Arden Collection. Its sister brand, Arthur Sanderson & Sons, holds a Royal Warrant of Appointment to HM The Queen.

The artwork for the Arden Collection was created by Melissa in her Hastings studio using large plastered canvasses, hand-painted and engraved to retain the hand-crafted appearance of the originals. The combination of Melissa’s talent in reproducing Elizabethan paintings by hand and Zoffany’s expertise and advancements in printing techniques result in a dynamic reintroduction of their historic designs for contemporary houses.

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“Some of the designs in this collection are very precious to us,” explained Melissa. “They are like old friends because we have painted them many times, each time adapting the design to suit its new setting. Putting these designs into new colourways for Zoffany has been a revelation as suddenly they have new personalities and a whole new lease of life

They are like old friends because we have painted them many times, each time adapting the design to suit its new setting.

Melissa White Painter Stainer

There are seven designs for wallpaper and six fabric variations in a number of different colourways. These will be launched in March 2012 and will be available in major department stores and through independent retailers and interior designers throughout the UK and internationally.

This will be the first time that Melissa, a mural artist specialising in Elizabethan painted decoration, will have seen her work duplicated to this extent.

Part of the Arden Collection of fabrics by Melissa White

Melissa will be exhibiting at QEST’s exhibition of Crafting Excellence at Fortnum & Mason’s and will show the new Arden Collection alongside her hand-painted linens. www.fairlyte.co.uk

Sweet smell of success Illustrator Eyizera Phoenix has been commissioned by Royal Warrant holder D.R. Harris & Co. Ltd., chemists and perfumers, to design and draw the label for a new fragrance to be launched in the spring.

“Izzy does such beautiful work,” said Alison Moore, managing director of D.R. Harris. “She takes such an intense interest in the product and does tremendous research. We had started with the idea for Colonial and her designs and artwork were perfect. When we were advised that we had been granted our second Royal Warrant of Appointment, this time from HM The Queen, it changed everything. We decided to work on Windsor, to celebrate our new Royal Warrant and mark the importance of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.”

D.R. Harris, one of London’s oldest pharmacies, has been in St. James’s Street for over 200 years. This family owned business now holds Royal Warrants to HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales. It is renowned for its hand-made range of soaps, colognes, bath and shaving preparations, skin care and aromatherapy oils for both men and women.

Eyizera Phoenix Illustrator

QEST

Diamond Jubilee Appeal News

QEST benefits from Diamond Jubilee products

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EST’s landmarks are closely associated with the Royal Family; it is therefore fitting that the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II should be the occasion to launch a major fundraising initiative for the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust.

Over the past 21 years, the Trust has endowed many craftsmen and women, enabling them to complete their studies or to learn a dying skill from a master on a one-to-one basis. In turn, that investment has been rewarded as scholars have taught others and taken apprentices themselves ensuring that British craft remains relevant and alive.

Many Royal Warrant holding companies have used the Diamond Jubilee year to benefit QEST by donating a portion of the profits of their celebratory products to the Association’s charity.

Fortnum & Mason Fortnum & Mason’s Jubilee Biscuit Assortment is presented in a specially designed tin that will undoubtedly become a keepsake. The motif for the Fortnum’s Jubilee range harks back to Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. It takes as its inspiration the Queen’s Beasts, animals real and mythical that feature on the Coats of Arms of previous monarchs. Each of these fearsome beasts has been reinterpreted in jaunty colours, each playing a musical instrument as if in a celebratory parade and adorned with garlands.

Fortnum & Mason’s Jubilee Biscuit Assortment

The 500g selection retails at £16.95 with £1 being donated to QEST. It is currently available in store, via mail order and online at www.fortnumandmason.com

Angostura Royal Warrant holders since 1955, Angostura® aromatic bitters has broken with nearly 200 years of tradition by redesigning their trademark bottle to mark this historic occasion. They have produced 24,000 limited edition bottles and cans and, for every one sold Angostura® will donate £1 to the QEST Diamond Jubilee Appeal.

The world famous Angostura® aromatic bitters has been made with the same original recipe since 1824. Produced in Trinidad, it remains the essential ingredient for classic and contemporary cocktails.

Angostura® aromatic bitters

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John Walker & Sons John Walker & Sons has pledged the profits from the sales of its Diamond Jubilee whisky, with a guarantee of at least £1 million, to QEST.

and memorable part of this project,” commented Laura. www.laurawest.com

Created by the hands of more than 60 craftspeople, the story of Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons will be brought to life by two QEST scholars.

Calligrapher on the project, Sally Mangum first created beautiful lines of writing to embellish the pages. “As a final touch,” explained Sally, “I’ll be personalising and numbering each book in a copperplate script, using a hand-dipped pen with antique British-made nibs.”

Laura West is making a book to accompany each edition at her bindery on the Isle of Skye. Inspired by ancient and medieval books, Laura has created an elegant structure that will be hand bound using rare calfskin covers and letterpress printed pages, illustrated with photographic prints.

“We artisans often work in isolation and it is the collaboration with other highly skilled and passionate craftspeople that has been the most enjoyable

Sally Mangum Calligrapher

Women of Words Claudia Clare - The Pot Book is the new book from acclaimed writer and artisan Edmund de Waal.

This beautiful publication is the first to document the extraordinary variety of ceramic vessels produced through the ages. With collaboration from QEST scholar Claudia Clare, de Waal tells the stories behind the pieces, ranging from a delicate bowl made by an unnamed artisan in China in the third millennium BC, or a jug made in 18th century Dresden, to a plate made

by Picasso in 1952, or the vases of Grayson Perry and the politically motivated works by Ai Wei Wei. Priced at £29.95, it is available from www.phaidon.com.

QEST scholar Rose Forshall illustrated Howl on the Wind, a Cornish tale of challenge, adventure and a young girl’s unstoppable determination. Rose completed the drawings for Charmian Hussey’s second novel during her MA in Authorial Illustration at University College Falmouth. Copies are available at £12.99 from www.atlanticpressbooks.com

“As a QEST scholar, I know how important funding can be,” she continued. “It has been a privilege working with such an inspiring team of craftsmen and women on this project, one which will enable many new craft scholarships.” www.sallymangum.com

Laura West Bookbinder

QEST

Trustee News

Under the Spotlight Fiona Rae, Goldsmith and Enameller, has held a Royal Warrant of Appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales since 2001 having started her business with a loan from the Prince’s Trust.

Fiona has been designing and producing high quality cufflinks, jewellery and vitreous enamel pieces since graduating from Central St. Martins with a first class Honours degree in Jewellery Design in 1988. Her work has been sold in many prestigious outlets such as Liberty, Browns, Asprey’s, Paul Smith and also internationally, including the USA and Japan. She designs and produces superior quality contemporary jewellery using precious metals and sources an enviable selection of the highest quality gem stones from around the world to meet her clients’ exacting requirements.

As QEST’s Diamond Jubilee Appeal gathers momentum, Fiona highlighted the difference that the additional funding would bring to the Royal Warrant Holders Association’s charity: “For the past two decades we have been a positive force for crafts in Britain and, from the high calibre of applications we are aware that there is still much to do. We can only fund approximately sixteen scholars each year and we would dearly like to increase that substantially. The other element is appreciating that we now have more than 240 exceptionally talented craftsmen in the QEST alumni; some are teaching, others are in conservation and others are self employed.

Craftsmen don’t always understand the world of entrepreneurship and business, for which reason we would like to be able to provide a mentoring programme to ensure that the investment we make continues to prosper and will benefit others, through apprenticeships, in the years to come.”

Fiona Rae Goldsmith and Enameller

As well as offering a bespoke jewellery service, Fiona has produced an extensive collection of cufflinks, with in excess of 80 designs and hundreds of colour options. She uses ancient enamel techniques dating back from 500BC, whereby vitreous enamel is glass fused onto metal. The colours are hand ground and then each piece is fired in a kiln at least four times. Fiona is a member of the British Society of Enamellers.

Fiona became a QEST trustee in 2006. Twice a year, more than three hundred applications are considered and a day of interviews takes place when artisans are invited to present their craft and highlight their need for a scholarship. “So many of the craftsmen that come deserve funding, they are all exceptionally talented. The majority would certainly make an impact upon British crafts,” explained Fiona. “As a craftsman myself, I am very aware of how desperately these scholarships are needed and that often makes the decision making process more difficult.”

So many of the craftsmen that come deserve funding, they are all exceptionally talented.

Fiona Rae Goldsmith and Enameller

“I thoroughly enjoy my role as a QEST trustee, it keeps me in touch with new talent developing and I find it very inspirational. I have a tremendous amount of passion for both the crafts and the scholars as their careers progress. The only lowlight of being a trustee is that I wish we were able to help more people.”

Fiona’s studio and shop is in the grounds of historic Hatfield House in Hertfordshire: from her window she can see the Tudor Palace where Queen Elizabeth I lived as a young girl. www.fionarae.co.uk

QEST

New Scholars

New Scholars (Summer 2011)

Shelley Anderson Metalsmith

Jess Edwards Textile Artist

Shelley Anderson (25) Metalsmith Shelley is a practising silversmith who also works in brass and copper. He has designed and produced his own range of jewellery as well as a series of marine life, including lobsters and sword fish. These are made entirely from recycled silver cutlery. Winning a scholarship will enable Shelley to undergo a year as an apprentice at The Copper Works, Newlyn under the tutelage of Michael Johnson.

Jess Edwards (23) textile Artist Since graduating with a BA at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Jess has continued to explore her interest in traditional British hand embroidery techniques. She has found contemporary and innovative applications to highlight her stitching by utilising unusual base materials such as paper, photographs and acrylic. Her work now crosses the boundaries between craft, design and fine art. Jess will use her scholarship to study for an MA Textiles at the Royal College of Art. www.jessedwardstextiles.blogspot.com

Sarah Freeman

(26) Easel Painting Conservator

Sarah has completed her second year of study on the Postgraduate Diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings at the Courtauld Institute of Art. She has worked on two 18th century paintings, one by David Morrier from the Royal Collection and another by Gilbert Stuart, owned by the National Trust. With the scholarship Sarah will undertake her final year of training in the Conservation of Easel Paintings.

Sarah Freeman Easel Painting Conservator

QEST

New Scholars

Christopher Gransbury Saddle and Harness Maker

Catrin Morgan Illustrator

Christopher Gransbury

(54) Saddle and Harness Maker

Christopher was Head Concierge at London’s prestigious Browns Hotel for fourteen years before he decided to follow his passion for horses. He spent two years at Capel Manor College studying saddlery. The scholarship will ensure that he can attend the Saddle Training Centre under Mark Romain to acquire additional knowledge in harness and collar making and attend a course at the MacGregor and Michael Leathercourse in Tetbury to gain a better understanding of leather restoration.

Catrin Morgan (31) Illustrator Catrin already has a substantial body of work that highlights her research investigating the relationship between image making and deception. Her book, entitled Phantom Settlements was published by Ditto Press in May 2011. Winning a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship will enable Catrin to gain a PhD by practice in the Visual Communications department at the Royal College of Art. www.catrinmorgan.co.uk

Cameron Short

(40) Hand Block-Printed Wallpaper Designer Maker

Cameron worked as an art director in London’s leading advertising agencies for more than a decade. He has spent the past two years researching and studying hand-blocked wallpaper. Now with his scholarship Cameron can work one-to-one with the acknowledged lino-cutter Marthe Armitage and thus expand his own designs, gain greater experience in cutting the blocks in relief and intaglio and hone the professional skills required.

Cameron Short Hand Block-Printed Wallpaper Designer Maker

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Thomas Nicholls Stonemason and Sculptor

Hazel Thorn Silversmith and Jeweller

Thomas Nicholls (29) Stonemason & Sculptor

Hazel Thorn

Tom has been working as a qualified stonemason and sculpture / architectural conservator in stone and metal for the past six years. Some of his recent work has included carving a replacement stone hand for the 19th century sculpture of Prince Edward on Fleet Street, cleaning and restoring the 16th century King’s Table in Westminster Hall and restoring the exterior of the Buxton Memorial Fountain in Westminster. He is passionate about expressing energy and movement through the medium of stone and the scholarship will enable Tom to develop these ideas whilst studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Stone Carving at the City and Guilds of London Art School in Kennington. www.tomjnicholls.com

Hazel has developed mixed metal processes for constructing and casting vessels. She has received accolades from the Company of Goldsmiths, including Technological Innovation, for both these areas of her work.

Winning a QEST Scholarship will allow Hazel to study for an MA in Jewellery and Silversmithing at the Edinburgh College of Art and ensure that she can bring together these two elements, producing work that is pioneering and founded on traditional skills. www.hazelthorn.co.uk

(22) Silversmith and Jeweller

QEST CRAFT AWARDS

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o you know someone who could benefit from a QEST Award?

Scholarships of up to £15,000 are awarded twice a year to craftsmen and women with exceptional talent to enable them to advance their education and skills in modern and traditional crafts in the UK. These scholarships are open to all ages and even for those embarking upon a second career. The trustees look for well thought out projects that highlight applicants’ passion and commitment to their craft and thus ensure that they will contribute to the pool of talent in the UK

and reflect the excellence of British craftsmanship as symbolised by the Royal Warrant of Appointment.

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, was established in 1990 with money contributed by its members, to mark the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Association.

To find out more and download an application form, visit the QEST website at www.qest.org.uk

QEST

Trustee News

Trustees out and about Each year QEST trustees are invited to attend a number of colleges and establishments to see scholars in situ and have the opportunity to meet tutors and specialists. These visits are vital as they encourage communication between the two organisations and enable trustees to see directly the level of support that is provided by the institutions. For many scholars it is the first time that they meet the trustees since their initial interview.

Professor and Head of Programme in the Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork & Jewellery Department, Hans Stofer and Administrator, Ruth Chambers organised a facility visit to the Royal College of Art, where two QEST scholars gave a guided tour of their respective departments.

Jennifer Gray spoke in detail about her work as an MA GSM&J student and a tour of the Ceramics Department was conducted by Sam Bakewell, currently undertaking an MA course in Ceramics & Glass with his scholarship funding.

In addition to taking a tour of the college, the QEST trustees were able to learn more about the scholars’ respective craft specialities and view some of the exemplary work that was being prepared for the end-of-year exhibition.

QEST trustee Penny Bendall arranged a visit to the Hamilton Kerr Institute and the Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge. The trustees visited the conservation departments of Applied Arts; Paintings, Drawings and Prints; and Antiquities and a tour of the Hamilton Kerr Institute conducted by its director, Rupert Featherstone.

The Fitzwilliam houses a world-class collection of art and antiquities and the Hamilton Kerr provides a respected specialist unit for the conservation of easel paintings. The visit provided a reminder of the importance of fostering and nurturing the next generation of restorers, conservators and craftsmen and women. QEST performs a key role in this process by supporting a wide variety of crafts and craft scholars every year, many of whom go on to secure employment and training in high profile cultural institutions. A number of QEST scholars have enjoyed the opportunity to hone their skills at the Hamilton Kerr Institute and it is hoped that future scholars will continue this legacy.

The Worshipful Company of Carpenters coordinated the trustees’ visit in their capacity as a new supporter of QEST. It founded the Building Crafts College in 1893. Ten years ago the college moved to Stratford in East London and it is now a government-sponsored centre of vocational excellence. It offers a wide range of woodworking, shop fitting and stonemasonry courses. The Principal, Len Conway, gave a tour of the College, highlighting the apprenticeship schemes and the bespoke courses that are arranged for specific companies.

Who’s who at Qest Chairman Richard Watling

Please enjoy responsibly. www.moet.com

Trustees: Jenifer Emery Edward Goodyear Ltd Nick Farrow Farrows Ltd Mark Henderson Gieves and Hawkes Ltd Sally Mangum Calligrapher Fiona Rae Goldsmith and Enameller

Trustee & Honorary Treasurer Alec McQuin Rokill Ltd Ex OfficioTrustee Robert Hall James & Son (Grain Merchants) Ltd Director of QEST Enterprises Penny Bendall Bendall Ceramic Conservation Secretary Richard Peek Manager Victoria Churchward Administrator Will Davis

Supporting Qest

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust 1 Buckingham Place London SW1E 6HR General enquiries Tel 020 7828 2268 Email info@qest.org.uk Registered Charity No. 802557

Media enquiries Shelley-Anne Claircourt Tel 020 7854 1827 Email info@pressoffice.co.uk www.qest.org.uk