It's that time of year again! Degree Show season is here and students across the country are preparing night and day to showcase their graduate collections. Scotland has an international reputation for high-class teaching in craft, art and design subjects, and visiting degree shows is one of the best ways to show your support for the next generation of talented makers. Over the next few months, we will be sharing our top picks from talented Scottish graduates working in craft disciplines.
This week, we are featuring more delectable wearable art from Scottish jewellery and metalwork graduates. With its international reputation for striking, high-calibre and original work, here are our top picks from the Jewellery and Metal Design course at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), University of Dundee.
Recently ranked as one of the UK’s leading school of art and design in the Complete University Guide and Guardian University Guide tables, the Jewellery and Metal Design course at DJCAD provides for students an intellectual and creative stimulus that encourages debate around perception and aesthetics. Aimee Cargill, a graduate from DJCAD said it "has taught me so much about different techniques and this has really informed my love of making".
Iona Hamilton
Iona Hamilton's graduate collection was influenced by the visual impact of intricate structures within nature and the concept of the continuous growth. She seeks to communicate these unpredictable organic forms to the viewer by translating these small plant structures into precious metal. Iona uses traditional techniques such as hand-raising and fabrication create exquisite silver vessels and jewellery to reflect on my inspiration.
Shortlisted Visual Art Scotland Award
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Sophie Allyerdyce
Sophie Allyerdyce is inspired by the subconscious mind and creating interactive dream-like pieces of contemporary jewellery that allow the wearer to glimpse into an alternative reality. She wanted to incorporate sensory illusions and the idea of floating that many of us experience whilst lucid dreaming.
The collection uses alternative materials such as white 3D printed nylon and PVC tubes entrapped with water and oil, with other materials including fibre optics and Arduino as a way of subtly creating light and shadows. Her aim was to use materials that wouldn’t normally be worn and transform them into sleek contemporary pieces with silver details. Sophie's advice for anyone just starting their undergraduate degree - "push all the boundaries, be daring, be different, be confident – and it’s ok to have a creative block…find a muse that will satisfy you and try again."
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Hannah Jayne Noble
Growing up Hannah Jayne Noble was surrounded by bright coloured houses, old fishing piers and rugged coastlines. Island living is a subconscious influence on her work and the colours and shapes have manifested themselves in her abstract pieces.
Winner of F & A Bradshaw Award
Winner of Tom Pigeon Award
Shortlisted Visual Art Scotland Award
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Amanda McGrattan
Amanda McGrattan's Urban Enamel collection is a unique mixture of bold neckpieces, rings and eye-catching brooches that mirror the dynamic nature of the city with the use of industrial enamels. Influenced by urban graffiti, her inspiration comes from the potential to brighten derelict buildings and decayed urban areas through street art. Amanda wants to provoke the wearer into appreciating graffiti as an art form in itself and enjoy wearing her jewellery as a result.
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Aimee Cargill
Landscapes in Rotation collection, made from brass and silver, is inspired by Aimee love for the Scottish and Irish landscapes, and how these to connect to each other. Aimee starts her process with landscape photography and then translate the distinctive elements into metal work to create her special pieces.
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