An exhibition of new work by Edinburgh jeweller Clare Hillerby is currently on at the Open Eye Gallery in Edinburgh.

Clare uses handwriting as the starting point for her work and combines found materials such as postcards, stamps, letters and old documents with silver and small details of gold leaf.  “The writing is used due to my interest in message making” she explains.  “The messages are always ambiguous and represent the idea of short uncertain conversations.  Inspiration also comes from mixing opposites together; the old and new, precious and non-precious, decorative and minimal, linear and solid.”

A graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, Clare has just returned from exhibiting at Chelsea Crafts Fair in London and will be exhibiting in Sweden during November in a show by design-ED, a group of 13 Edinburgh-based applied artists.

Since graduating in 1997 Clare has shown her work across the UK including Dazzle in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, Contemporary Applied Arts in London, Dundee Contemporary Arts and The Lighthouse in Glasgow.

The exhibition is on at the Open Eye Gallery, 34 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh until 9 November 2005.  Opening hours Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm.  Admission free.