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Collect 2024

Maker

Heather McDermott

Location:  

Perth and Kinross

Disciplines:  

Silversmithing & Goldsmithing, Jewellery

Materials:  

Precious Metals

Heather McDermott is a contemporary jeweller from the Isle of Skye, now based from her shop in Callander. She specialises in working with stainless steel, silver and gold - creating statement pieces that are sculptural yet wearable.  
 

Heather’s current work is inspired by the coastlines of her island home and in particular how flotsam clusters on the beach. She describes the tideline of Skye as a “treasure trove” of unique objects discarded from the urban environment and deposited by the power of the Hebridean swell.  
 

Heather holds an MA from Edinburgh College of Art and has exhibited in the UK and internationally. These include Goldsmiths’ Fair and Dazzle, and her collections are stocked in key UK galleries including The Scottish Gallery (Edinburgh) and The Biscuit Factory (Newcastle).  

In conversation

1. Tell us about your practice and what led you down your chosen path as a maker.

I come from an artistic family and have always been exposed to craft and art growing up. I was constantly making things, specifically beaded jewellery to sell as pocket money. This sparked a love of making jewellery and after graduating from Edinburgh College of Art I proceeded to make it my career. Each year running my practice is different, and in my 10th year I decided to open my own bricks and mortar shop in Callander where I create my own work and showcase a selection of other makers.

2. Tell us about your materials.

I was first introduced to stainless steel by one of our visiting tutors in my MA year. Their passing comment: ‘have you considered stainless steel?’ started my love affair with this material. It’s not a conventional material seen in contemporary jewellery, but I love its durability, colour and ability to be both strong and fragile. It informs my larger and smaller collections and I love the combination of precious and non-precious metals together.

3. 3. Can you share more about the process behind your Collect 2024 collection?

For the first time in a long time, I have used a sketchbook to map out my pieces for Collect. I have always worked backwards; I see a final piece in my head and then work back to research and developmental drawings. I knew I wanted to use stainless steel, 18ct gold, silver and pearls within this body of work, and have a cohesive shape and theme running throughout. I have experimented more with the sense of depth and developed a ‘cluster’ effect building layers of material on top of each other to create something completely one-off and unique.

4. What inspired your collection for Collect 2024?

I can never seem to escape my childhood home, the Isle of Skye, as a source of inspiration. However, the move to Callander has seen me experiment more with textures I see in the landscape. Fishing nets, flotsam washed ashore and the colours of the west coast of Scotland inspire this collection.

5. Tell us about your approach to sustainable making in this work.

The wonderful thing with precious metal is that is can be melted down and reworked into another piece of jewellery and this is certainly something I practice in my studio. Even the stainless steel is re-worked into other pieces, and I create very little waste within my work.

6. What do you hope the viewer will take away from this work?

Standing on the beach at home on Skye in all the elements is such a raw and powerful emotion for me and I hope the viewer experiences that deep connection of place within my work.

Work

Gabriela Silveira

Heather McDermott

Layered Flotsam

Necklace. Stainless steel, cultured pearls and silver.

35cm, dia. 25cm

2024

Gabriela Silveira

Heather McDermott

Drifted Fankle

Necklace. Stainless steel, 18ct gold plated silver and silver.

45cm, dia. 25cm

2024

Gabriela Silveira

Heather McDermott

Caught in the Tide

Necklace with two detachable brooches. Stainless steel and 18ct gold plated..

Length 53cm

2024

Gabriela Silveira

Heather McDermott

Scatter Fankle

Brooch. 18ct gold.

5.5 x 5.5 x 1cm

2024

Gabriela Silveira

Heather McDermott

Drifted

Brooch. Stainless steel, silver and freshwater pearls.

7 x 8 x 2cm

2024

Gabriela Silveira

Heather McDermott

Flotsam

Brooch. Silver.

6 x 6.6 x 1.2cm

2024

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