The Craft Edit March 2026

Here at Craft Scotland we’re looking towards Spring and celebrating news and achievements from across Scotland’s craft sector. This month, our Craft Edit has a special focus on jewellery and silversmithing. Read on to hear about the latest awards, exhibitions and events.

Earth Matters at Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Curated by Design Exhibition Scotland, Earth Matters celebrates Edinburgh-born geologist James Hutton (1726-1797) and subsequent trailblazers who have helped challenge and change our understanding of soil. Through art, craft and design dating from the 18th century to the present-day, Earth Matters illuminates the vital beauty and brilliance of earth.

The exhibition features new work ‘Under The City’ by Glasgow-based designer/maker Stefanie Ying Lin Cheong. An advocate for sustainable making, Stefanie has made a collection of ritual amulets from soil, clay, Scottish rocks and recycled metals. The pieces represent various overlooked elements of urban soils such as lichen, bacteria, earth worms and nematodes. She sees each object as a talisman to protect and renew our relationship with the ground beneath our built environments.

Hear more about Stefanie’s practice on the DES podcast, where she is in conversation with Susanna Beaumont. Subscribe, as further podcast episodes featuring makers who have produced work for Earth Matters are coming soon! 

Above image: Stefanie Ying Lin Cheong / Photography by Ruth Clark

Sarah Hutchison, Bryony Knox, Dr Elizabeth Goring and Eda Obermanns

'Alchemy: Goldsmiths Scotland’ to launch in Spring 2027

We’re thrilled by the announcement that a major new jewellery show, Alchemy: Goldsmiths Scotland, will launch in Spring 2027.

2023 marked the last year that Elements Festival, run by the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust and held at Lyon & Turnbull auction house, took place. The closure of this jewellery showcase and selling fair was a huge loss for the community of contemporary silversmiths and jewellers in Scotland.

But this month silversmiths Sarah Hutchison and Bryony Knox, working alongside Dr Elizabeth Goring and Eda Obermanns, have announced their vision for a new event that will champion contemporary jewellery and silversmithing in Scotland while welcoming makers from across the UK and beyond.

The first Alchemy; Goldsmiths Scotland in Spring 2027 will be an exciting new chapter for contemporary jewellery and silversmithing in Scotland. The team behind Alchemy hope that it will grow into an annual event and become a vibrant platform for makers, collectors and the wider craft community.

Militsa Milenkova, Dolerite Goblets, part of the Edinburgh Assay Office permanent collection / Photography by Shannon Tofts

Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council Awards

The annual GCDC Awards, often referred to as the ‘Jewellery Oscars’, were held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London on 9 Mar 2026. Craft Scotland would like to extend our congratulations to all the Scotland-based jewellers and silversmiths who received awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements. Award winners include Alice Biolo, Militsa Milenkova, Qiwei Liu, Monica Findlay, Annabel Hood and Elizabeth Jane Campbell.

We’re also delighted to congratulate to Glasgow School of Art on winning the prestigious College Trophy Award 2026.

Amy Findlay / Photography by Megan Orr

Scotland-Based Makers at MAD About Jewelry, New York

Three talented makers will represent Scotland at MAD About Jewelry 2026, the exciting annual showcase of original, innovative jewelry design held at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York.

Work by Amy Findlay, Natalie Baker and Elizabeth Jane Campbell will be on display from 5-9 May.

Bryony Knox / Photography by Rachel Hein

Bryony Knox is the recipient of the inaugural Edinburgh Assay Office Award

Edinburgh-based Silversmith Bryony Knox has received The Edinburgh Assay Office Award which launched in 2025. This new Award, aimed at supporting a sustainable Silversmithing sector in Scotland, is a continuation of the Edinburgh Assay Office’s longstanding commitment to championing excellence in craft.

The premise of the award is to create a noteworthy piece of silver by asking the question, what is one piece of contemporary silver you have always dreamed of making, but never had the chance to?  The deciding panel included representatives from the Edinburgh Assay Office and the Hugo Burge Foundation.

We look forward to seeing Bryony’s design, entitled St Ninian’s: A Box of Delights, come to life!