& Jewellery 2024
Silversmithing
Graduates 2024
Emilia Belderbos
Natasha Biesek
Stella Busby
Kyle Ferguson
Olivia Forrest
Torquil Gordon
Imogen Hales
Karen Hannigan
Siri Hansen
Chengxi Li
Yujie Liu
Lindsay Mahood
Jenny McElroy
Misha McLean
Militsa Milenkova
Alejandro Ruiz Ruiz
Archie Wain
BA (Hons)
Silversmithing & JewelleryTheSilversmithing & Jewellery graduates of 2024 present a broad approach to the discipline, exploring personal narratives, environmental themes, and historical contexts.
The resulting work demonstrates a rigour and diversity that is evident in their final collections.
At GSA, a strong emphasis is placed on the development of individual craft and design skills and material exploration, allowing students the freedom to pursue and realise their own ideas and create their own voice.
Anna Gordon, Head ofDepartment &Programme LeaderEmilia Belderbos
Generations in Focus
Coming from a family of architects, throughout Emilia’s collection “Generations in Focus” she has explored personal photographs and family generations. The first architect in her family designed a cinema in Crosby, Liverpool, which sparked her interest in the aspects of the cinema. Linking these two ideas she created her current collection, “Generations in Focus”.
She started looking at shadows created by film camera lenses, which led to the idea of illusions. Using layers of laser-cut acrylic throughout her work, she has abstracted the images with different depths. Lighting is an essential part of Emilia’s work. When light shines through the piece, it amplifies the detail in the work.
“Generations in Focus” incorporates mirror and iridescent acrylic to compliment the light, showing projections of different colours and images from various angles. The colours red and blue are very prominent in Emilia’s work, as these were recurring colours she saw while researching pictures from the Crosby cinema. ‘Generations in Focus’ explores family connections through film, camera lenses and personal photographs.
Piece: necklace
Material: silver, acrylic
Instagram: @emb.jewellery
Natasha Biesek
Nature’s Tapestry
My designs draw inspiration from the elements of nature encountered during walks in the British countryside. These tranquil, forested walks ignited a fascination with the understated beauty found in nature, particularly in mushrooms and fungi.
Their lifecycle, marked by transformation and growth, deeply influences my work. I aim to capture this dynamic process through movement elements incorporated into crochet, a technique central to my aesthetic.
Crocheting is pivotal in my designs, as it mirrors the organic growth patterns seen in tree rings and fungi. This method not only highlights the intricate textures and varied appearances of mushrooms, which captivate me due to their complexity and common oversight but also symbolises the overarching theme of growth and envelopment found in nature.
Through my work, I strive to evoke the serene yet powerful essence of the forest, portraying how nature, in its relentless advance, gracefully incorporates everything in its path.
My goal is to showcase the inherent beauty of fungi, emphasising their significance and the subtle elegance they add to the forest floor, urging a deeper appreciation for these often-overlooked natural wonders.
Piece: necklaces
Materials: wood, thread
Instagram: @tashabiesek_art
Stella Busby
Beyond The Lens
Throughout my artistic journey, New Zealand’s environment has been my muse, igniting a profound connection to its landscapes and moments. Each collection I craft is a testament to this bond, a tribute to the unique experiences that have shaped me.
Immersed in New Zealand’s vastness, I found inspiration in its unparalleled beauty, sparking a primal urge to translate these moments into tangible memories. My art becomes a vessel for encapsulating the essence of these cherished encounters, refining them into wearable forms. Choosing three pivotal moments, I weave them into my collections, each filled with personal significance and emotional resonance. Special moments, elusive and fleeting, are like gold – precious and invaluable.
My creative process begins with photography, capturing the essence of these moments. Through sketches and various experimentation, I translate these images into 3D forms. The circular form on the frames of my brooches serves as metaphors for the camera lens, through which memories are captured and projected onto the world.
Digging deeper, I incorporate the technique of press forming, sculpting each piece to breathe life into the captured moment. The tabs securing the elements echo the delicate balance of preserving memories, like the frames that hold cherished photographs and paintings.
In each collection, I strive to evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia, inviting viewers to embark on their own journey through the landscapes of memory. My art is a celebration of life’s fleeting moments, eternalised in wearable treasures.
Piece: brooch
Material: silver and gold plated brass
Instagram: @stellabusbyjewellery
Kyle Ferguson Dormante
My final collection “Dormante” looks into my fictional underwater realm that acts as a refuge and a platform to address personal mental reflection and worldwide issues. This world spawned from my experiences growing up between Scotland and Barbados, I found inspiration in my diverse surroundings, shaping a unique sense of place that transcends the geographical borders of my two homes. In particular, the lack of diversity and acceptance in my Scottish village led me to envision and create a fictional underwater realm, somewhere where I feel free from the perceptions and constraints of our reality.
Exploration of practical experiences, in addition to honing technical jewellery/silversmithing techniques and modern 3D printing as a jeweller, I have imbued my creations with the essence of my upbringing, to evolve my memories and experiences into more fictional narratives. I aim to bring them to life through narrative physical, interactive, and tactile artifacts.
In essence, my work as an art jeweller embodies lived experiences, sensory wonders, and the transformative power of storytelling. This collection signifies an ongoing journey of self-discovery and commitment to challenging perceptions while fostering an understanding of personal and environmental complexities.
Piece: rings
Material: bronze/resin and peridot
Instagram: @Dormante_Jewel
Olivia Forrest Underfoot
Through exploration of photography, collaging and charcoal surface rubbings, my collection “Underfoot” celebrates the hidden shapes and textures we most often miss and walk past, through and over every day.
My photography collections of urban ground textures have captured the detailed irregularities which I have used to construct this body of work that showcases these unnoticed marks, allowing viewers to observe the forms we rarely take the time to appreciate.
My series of brooches observe the concealed contours, surfaces and forms we find below our feet. Using press-forming, scoring and folding and concrete-setting stone techniques, ‘Underfoot’ delves into crafting sentimental jewellery from something so often overlooked, yet around us constantly.
It was essential in my practice to replicate the unpredicted and imperfect cracks, imprints and traces of human interaction through everyday urban life.
My pieces are wearable fragments designed and built from the ground up, showcasing rough edges, marks and finishes.
Piece: brooches
Material: silver, brass, concrete, cubic zirconias, steel Instagram: @oliviaforrestjewellery
Torquil Gordon
Lands of Bent Grass
My graduate collection, “Lands of Bent Grass”, draws inspiration from the island landscapes of the Outer Hebrides, aiming to capture their unique character through jewellery. Growing up surrounded by the wild beauty of the Falkland Islands, I developed a deep reverence for the diverse cultures within remote island life.
Exploring not only the heritage and traditions found there but also the barren landscapes, rugged coastlines and dramatic weather. I aim to translate these elements into a collection that creates a connection between the wearer and the environment. Each curated piece is meticulously crafted serving as a wearable memento to the landscapes that inspire it.
Alongside my research into the resourcefulness of the inhabitants of these islands and their ability to sustain themselves from the environment around them, my creative process blends traditional jewellery techniques with modern 3D printing and technologies, merging the old with the new to create pieces that honour tradition while embracing innovation.
Piece: chain
Material: sterling silver and moissanite gemstones
Instagram: @torquilgordonjewellery
Imogen Hales
Unspool
In my practice, making jewellery always begins with drawing; these drawings are instinctive and gestural responses to particular places and moments in time. The “Unspool” collection transposes the energetic immediacy of my work on paper into jewellery, through the marriage of wirework and enamel.
Emerging from an ongoing investigation into material and process, I create painterly and densely detailed surfaces by using traditional craft skills in unconventional ways. Developed in tandem with a series of recent drawings and monoprints, this body of work is rooted firmly in the present, while also referencing craft heritage. Milliners’ straw braiding techniques are applied to silver and copper wire, emulating the hand-drawn line. Elements from various enamelling methods such as cloisonné, champlevé and basse-taille are mixed and matched, to create a depth of colour reminiscent of translucent layered inks.
The jewellery in “Unspool” is a series of sketches designed to be worn, made with metal and glass as drawing materials, rather than pencil or ink.
Piece: brooches & earrings
Material: silver, copper, gold and enamel
Instagram: @minhales
Karen Hannigan
Child, Wife, Mother
Reflecting on my life as a child, wife, and mother, I have created a collection that delves into the interplay between family dynamics, personal identity, and artistic expression.
My approach, rooted in autoethnographic storytelling, knits together my personal experiences, aiming to resonate with others and cultivate a shared sense of belonging. This exploration into the complexities of familial relationships underscores the pivotal role of family as the foundation of community life.
My artistic journey translates my memories and emotions into abstract portraiture, offering me a form of therapy. Although abstract, these pieces are imbued with my personal and family history, poised to become a visual legacy for future generations. This body of work not only documents my story and that of my family but also bridges individual experiences with broader insights into the human condition.
By creating this collection, I strive to connect the past, present, and future, hoping to leave a lasting impression that emphasises the strong ties of family bonds and the enduring resilience of the human spirit. This venture not only serves as a reflection on the importance of family but also as a testament to the transformative power of art in exploring and expressing our deepest connections and shared humanity.
Piece: brooches
Material: silver, copper and enamel
Instagram: @ Karenmhannigan
Siri Hansen
Plastic Metamorphism
PlasticMetamorphism” is a collection of wearable pieces that question traditional notions of material value. The pieces are made from discarded plastics; through this, they play with the aspect of preciousness. The questioning of material value can, for example, be seen in the combining of materials that are traditionally seen as precious, like silver and gemstones, with materials often seen as non-precious, like waste plastic.
The waste materials used in the pieces are a mix of discarded jewellery, waste from different departments in The Glasgow School of Art, and everyday waste found in households and on the street. The collection is highly motivated by sustainability; through doing this, what would have become waste is given a new life. Furthermore, it invites the viewer to rethink their perception of waste and their plastic consumption habits.
The name “Plastic Metamorphism” hints at rock metamorphism, a process where rocks change form due to high temperature and pressure exposure. Similarly, in the making of this collection, discarded plastic was exposed to heat and pressure to be turned into something new.
Piece: brooch
Materials: discarded plastics, sterling silver, steel
Instagram: @sirihansen2
“
Chengxi Li
Hand in Mine: 02092022
Your
Chengxi’s collection “Your Hand in Mine: 02092022” is born from her transformative journey through her initial encounter with grief. She utilises metal and textiles, both materials that resonate profoundly with her personal narrative, as central elements of her art. Chengxi approaches the design and creation process as therapeutic tools, each piece being a testament to her unique artistic language.
The textures, shapes, and color of each work are to reflect her experiences and insights. Having spent most of her childhood in textile factories and upbringing in the fabric industry, these settings greatly influence her artistic expression. She draws on these pivotal memories to create tactile and meaningful work, bridging her past with her present.
This collection is to celebrate what was once present but is now absent, by sparking a dialogue on identity, memories, and the notion of home. Chengxi uses her work to encourages reflection on the intricate connection between ourselves with the places and people we call home.
Piece: necklace
Material: copper, brass, enamel, arcylic spay paint, repurposed fabric
Instagram: @chengxi_art
Yujie Liu
The collection “Halcyon” explores the notion of jewellery more than just adornments, delving its potential as vessels of healing and solace. Named after my grandfather’s favourite bird, each piece aims to resonate with the wearer both physically and emotionally through their sounds, forms, and materials.
Drawing from the personal experience of attending traditional funeral ceremony in China, where the familial bonds are strengthened through tradition, offering mutual protection, solace, and a collective hope for the passage of time and its potential for positive change.
The collection is a tribute to the journey of life, loss and healing. The use of silver and titanium creates a sense of preciousness and contrast in colour.
The transformation of titanium in colour and sizes symbolises the inevitability of change. The wire structure in silver plays with the idea of protection. The titanium makes sounds with the movement of the wearer. The collection seeks to bring the wearer a sense of comfort and solace, fostering a deep connection them and the jewellery they adorn.
Piece: earrings
Material: silver, titanium
Instagram: @yujieliu_jewellery
Halcyon
Lindsay A Mahood
Voices of Resilience
Silver and Oak
My collection continues my academic inquiry into the untold stories of women who championed the suffragette movement of the 1900s. I’ve reinterpreted the hunger strike medal awarded to these courageous women.
In reworking these medals, I aimed to amplify their significance and visibility, drawing inspiration from the boldness of the suffragette spirit. I wanted these medals to be unmistakable, to demand attention and recognition for these women’s remarkable bravery and sacrifice.
I am committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility and have brought this into the crafting collection. To this end, I have chosen to work primarily with reclaimed oak and recycled Sterling Silver.
The collection’s specific pieces hold particular significance, each telling the story of Scottish suffragettes such as Flora Drummond, Ethel Moorehead, and Dr. Dorothea Chalmers Smith. These pieces are poignant reminders of these trailblazing women’s indomitable spirit and unwavering determination.
Ultimately, my work is a tribute to the resilience, courage, and enduring legacy of the suffragette movement.
I aim to spark conversations about gender equality, activism, and the power of art to inspire social change.
Piece: medals
Material: oak, sterling silver, enamel, copper
Instagram: @Lindsay_mahood
Jenny McElroy
Princess. Matriarch. Mother.
Sarah:
In my artistic practice, I explore the hidden stories of my family’s heritage including our genetics, focusing on the large number of women and their individual characteristics, and the tradition of passing down female names such as Sarah.
My work reflects on the impact of genetic testing, which began with examining our own results and discovering complications. Through this exploration, I have come to understand the significance of shared names and matriarchal roles in my family.
The collection I present features minimalistic yet conceptual portraits in the form of necklaces and lariats. Each piece is an intimate portrayal of an individual.
These creations represent my connection to my home, heritage, and Catholic faith that remains subtly in my family. I incorporate personal artefacts from each individual, including locks of hair, to create mementos. Through my work, I aim to construct a narrative that challenges observers to question their connection to the subject matter. I do this by juxtaposing precious and non-precious materials and inviting reflection on the legacies we carry and how they shape our identity. My ambition is not only to bridge visibility with privacy but to invite reflection on what it means to carry a legacy of a family and share this connection to the name Sarah.
Piece: necklace
Material: steel, silver, sea glass, glass, human hair
Instagram: @her_typical_art_account
Misha McLean Repeat Prescription
Repeat Prescription” focuses on our relationship with medicine. In the Western world, pharmaceuticals are undoubtedly intertwined in our daily lives. Medicine can be a life-saving tool but can equally cause harm to those who take it, resulting in many polarising opinions on this subject.
Some see medicine as something that significantly improves their quality of life, allowing them to live without pain or discomfort.
Some only take medicine when it is essential, as they are afraid of the adverse side effects.
Some people see medicine as something valuable, precious and unattainable due to failing healthcare systems.
Some see medicine as a way of “patching up” one’s problems, masking symptoms rather than addressing the root cause.
Without medicine, some people would not be alive.
I have created this collection to explore attitudes towards medicine in the Western world and encourage others to think about their relationship with prescription medication.
Piece: brooches
Material: copper, enamel, silver, bronze, lacquer, steel, decal Instagram: @mishamclean
“
Militsa Milenkova
What Could Have Been but Never Was
“
What Could Have Been but NeverWas” , is a collection that explores the impact of immigration at a very young age, on my relationship with my extended family. I gather ordinary objects which belonged to my relatives and contemplate how these seemingly insignificant items can hold so many memories and be of such importance. I focus my attention on the negative spaces within those and create standalone pieces that fit inside or around them as a metaphor for being a part of my family but yet detached from it.
The collection embodies a playful response to the function of each object. It consists of functional, decorative and wearable pieces made in two parts. One in sterling silver and the other in gilding metal, alluding to a life lived and one left behind. It aims to engage viewers in an open dialogue about the challenges of immigration and the sacrifices involved when making such a decision.
Piece: pendant, box
Material: sterling silver, cotton cord, silicone band, gilding metal Instagram: @militsa_milenkova
Alejandro Ruiz Ruiz
Silicia
Silica” is the name given to a collection of relaxation tools meticulously designed to be an integral part of this final collection. Evoking feelings of pleasure, playfulness, escapism, and a deeper connection to our bodies through touch and sensory engagement, these devices seamlessly integrate into our daily lives.
Jewellery is not merely about visual aesthetics but also about tactile sensations. “Silica” represents a fusion of various elements, drawing inspiration from a diverse array of sources, including sex toys, teething rattles, massage tools, and other implements used in our journey of self-care and pleasure.
Throughout my creative process, I have persistently explored the concept of beauty from unique perspectives and the relationship jewellery has with the body. My inspiration stems from a quest to uncover the unseen within ourselves, challenging conventional viewpoints by delving into realms often overlooked by others.
The relaxation tools I design are not merely functional objects; they are crafted to be pleasant to the touch and visually stimulating.
Through my work, I encourage viewers to perceive their bodies in a new light, prompting a reconsideration of how we connect with one another and inviting a fresh perspective on jewellery design. Silica embodies an invitation to embrace our bodies with a newfound appreciation and to reimagine the boundaries of adornment.
Piece: relaxation tool, pendant
Material: silicone Instagram: @alejandrx.ruiz
“
Archie Wain
Rural Reflections “
Rural Reflections” is a collection of playful, wearable pieces of jewellery which explore personal experiences and perception of value. Deriving from summers spent at a family farm in North England, my collection, consisting of brooches, pins, rings, bracelets, and necklaces feature a kinetic element of movement, mimicking the mechanisms involved in navigating farming equipment, gates and chains found on farm grounds and pastures inviting wearers to engage with my jewellery on a deeper level.
Using bronze, brass and silver alongside press-forming, 3D Printing, lost-wax casting and stone setting techniques, my collection showcases a rustic, organic body of work, featuring sheep’s wool from the farm to create a strong sense of the nostalgia I associate with these memories. It was important to explore a variety of metals to present varying finishes to my work.
Ultimately, ‘Rural Reflections’ is more than just jewellery; it’s a testament to the profound beauty found in the simplicity of rural life and a celebration of the enduring value of sentimental memories. Each piece serves as a wearable reminder of the timeless treasures waiting to be discovered in the most unexpected places.
Piece: brooch, pin
Material: sterling silver, brass, bronze, wool
Instagram: @Archie_Arts
Thanks to:
Academic staff
Technical staff
Artist in Residence
Thanks also to
Anna Gordon
Michael Pell
Marianne Anderson
Andrew Lamb
Silvia Weidenbach
Helen McCormack
Shona Guthrie
Maciej Sankowski
Caius Bearder
Nigel Munro
Amy Findlay
Alice Biolo
Niamh Wright
Lucy Johnson
Yitong Zhang
Stefanie Ying Lin Cheong
Christopher Thompson Royds
Karen Westland
Alkesh Parmar
Max Warren
Michael Pendry
Simone Ten Hompel
Corinne Julius
Jane Milosch
Lesley Black
David Finlay
Kim McNeil
TSD Team
Student work photography
Catalogue Design
Shannon Tofts
Harald Turek
Silvia Weidenbach
Instagram: @gsa_SJ