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Appointment: Victoria Houghton appointed as new Hamilton & Inches CEO

Hamilton & Inches has appointed Victoria Houghton as its new Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. Houghton takes over from Stephen Paterson after a 40 year tenure and has been charged with managing a new company strategy which aims to double its turnover to £20 million over the next five years. Houghton’s rise to the top stands in the wake of any array of international luxury and retail experience which has included the role of Fashion and Accessories buyer at Next plc, River Island and M&S. She relocated to Bangkok, Thailand whilst in the position of Product Developer for Next

Victoria McKay resigns from London Diamond Bourse

The changing of the guard continues at London Diamond Bourse with the resignation of Victoria McKay as Chief Operating Officer, after a busy six years in the role. Just two months after board changes were announced at the LDB, including the appointment of new president Alan Cohen, McKay has said she will step down from her position after signing off the deal to refurbish and reconfigure their premises at 100 Hatton Garden, London which is designed to allow members of the UK diamond industry to work and trade together across a larger improved space. She will remain as a consultant

Victoria and Albert’s spectacular collection of Royal jewels go on show

The Victoria Revealed exhibition at Kensington Palace will reopen this month, with a glittering suite of gems specially commissioned for Victoria by her beloved Albert set to join the display at her childhood home. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are famed - even among royal collectors - for their love of fine craftsmanship, together commissioning and purchasing some of the nineteenth century’s finest artworks, porcelains and objects d’art to fill their homes. Among the most personal of these treasures were the spectacular gifts the couple exchanged, from the moment of their engagement in 1839 and throughout their 21-year marriage.  Now,

Appointment: Victoria Waugh Announced as Women’s Jewellery Network First Ethics and Sustainability Ambassador

The Women’s Jewellery Network, the UK’s only dedicated organisation supporting women working in the UK jewellery industry, today announces Victoria Waugh as its first UK Ambassador for Ethics and Sustainability. Waugh has more than 15 years’ business development experience across the clothing, jewellery and accessory sectors, plus leading the Fairtrade Foundation's work to launch Fairtrade gold, bringing a wealth of commercial expertise and knowledge of sustainable and ethical practices to the WJN and its members. Waugh joins four existing WJN regional Ambassadors in a role that will provide support and direction for WJN members wishing to know more about ethical

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair once again brings the UK’s top makers to Manchester’s iconic Victoria Baths

The North of England’s most exciting craft event returns to Manchester this autumn! The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair brings 200 of the UK’s finest makers to the Edwardian splendour of Victoria Baths over the weekend of 13-16 October 2022. Already a firm favourite with those in the know, the fair offers an unrivalled line up of designer makers from all over the country, each one selected for the quality, desirability, and innovation of their work. Craft says something in a society obsessed with mass production and throw-away culture. It says that something is unique, joyful, special, and out of the ordinary. It

Flux, Centrala Art Gallery: Art Loft - Birmingham

Zoe Robertson will be showing work at FLUX, an exhibition curated by Room 7. A performance intervention with Sellotape Cinema, Natalie Garrett Brown, Polly Hudson and Zoe Robertson will take place on the opening night Newly formed collective of curators ROOM7 presents ‘FLUX’, an exhibition of contemporary art in collaboration with Grand Union and Centrala Art Galleries. The collective is made up of 7 curators from different backgrounds brought together by their studies at the University of Birmingham. The exhibition is formed by the work of four carefully selected artists based in the West Midlands; Mark Houghton, James Lomax, Anna

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2023

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2023 19-22 October 2023 Victoria Baths, Manchester Boasting a national reputation, Great Northern Events organises the foremost selling fairs in the North. Over 150 of the UK’s best designer-makers are presented at our flagship live fair, GNCCF, in Manchester’s iconic Victoria Baths in October, complemented by two digital fairs - GNCCFonline -  in May and December. We offer makers an unrivalled opportunity to put their work in front of an eager and savvy audience in a way that suits them and their buyers best. Venue: Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0FE Opening Times  

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2023

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2025 16 - 19 October 2025 Victoria Baths, Manchester Boasting a national reputation, Great Northern Events organises the foremost selling fairs in the North. Over 150 of the UK’s best designer-makers are presented at our flagship live fair, GNCCF, in Manchester’s iconic Victoria Baths in October, complemented by two digital fairs - GNCCFonline -  in May and December. We offer makers an unrivalled opportunity to put their work in front of an eager and savvy audience in a way that suits them and their buyers best. Venue: Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0FE www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk 

Benchpeg Award Winner: Design for Manufacture

Benchpeg Awards 2016 Winner: Victoria Barker This category invited entries to the competition which used either technology or hand craft skills to manufacture and create a high quality finished piece taking into account construction processes. Judges took into consideration methodology of production, ease of manufacture and how the design would best translate when placed into production. Victoria submitted a range of 2D CAD designs which the judges looked upon with merit when looking at the deigns of the pieces entered and the consideration given by the designer to production methods. Victoria says of her inspiration and designs, “The somatic senses are

Winners of the Goldsmiths' Fair Best New Design Award Week 1 & 2

The winners of Goldsmiths’ Fair Best New Design Award for Week One and Week Two have been announced during the event’s run in the last two weeks. This year’s Week One winner was chosen by Victoria Broackes, senior curator for the department of theatre and performance at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Vicky chose Hazel Thorn as the winner, for her latest collection of work. Hazel uses a combination of base and precious metals, constructing metal sheets which she transforms into sculptural vessels. Hazel then applies the same chemical patination to the whole object which affects the mixed metals in

‘In The Loupe’ Exhibition, Vittoria Street Gallery

‘In the loupe’ is an exhibition of practitioners from both the School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University and Plymouth College of Art and Design. The exhibition was created to acknowledge the educational routes of alumni, Victoria Sewart, who is celebrating her 10 anniversary as proprietor of Victoria Sewart Contemporary Jewellery Gallery. ‘In the loupe’ brings together a vibrant collection of work created by artists, educators, researchers and practitioners from the School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University and Plymouth College of Art and Design.   The eclectic mix of work on show spans the breadth of the jewellery discipline from commercial

Help Alan Craxford fulfil his final project

My name is Janice Hosegood, and I'm fundraising to help Alan Craxford complete his final project. We've known each other for over thirty years, first through work and in later years, we've become great friends. With a career spanning over 50 years, Alan Craxford is an artist, jeweller, silversmith, engraver, and teacher, acknowledged for his precision and mastery of precious metals and gemstones. Alan’s artworks are highly prized and have been exhibited over his career with examples shown within the Victoria & Museum’s permanent collection. In 2003, Alan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. It is a devastating condition and although

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2022

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair brings 200 of the UK’s finest makers to the Edwardian splendour of Victoria Baths over the weekend of 13-16 October 2022. Already a firm favourite with those in the know, the fair offers an unrivalled line up of designer makers from all over the country, each one selected for the quality, desirability, and innovation of their work. Craft says something in a society obsessed with mass production and throw-away culture. It says that something is unique, joyful, special, and out of the ordinary. It says that something was made with love and built to last. It

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2024

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair  17 - 20 October 2024 Victoria Baths, Manchester Plans for this October’s Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair – our 17th no less – are ramping up. We’ve got lots of exciting new content for you and over 200 makers to browse and buy from, including the best of our regular exhibitors and many new makers joining us for the first time.  Our exhibitor line up is now up on our website so have a browse and start saving! Tickets will go on sale in late July. GNCCF has always been the best place in the

Toye Kenning & Spencer secure £1M funding

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund Debt Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners, has provided Toye Kenning & Spencer Limited, the oldest continuously operating company in Birmingham, with a £1 million loan to invest in equipment, improve facilities and support growth of the business. Established in 1685, Toye manufactures a range of medals, regalia, bespoke jewellery, badges, including coloured ribbons, braids and laces, used in the production of ceremonial uniforms and gowns. The firm has held a Royal Warrant to the British Royal Family without interruption since the reign of Queen Victoria to the current monarch Queen Elizabeth the II. Toye

New ethical consultancy launched

New consultancy firm V&V launches to debunk the myth that working responsibly and transparently has to be complicated and costly.    Victoria Waugh, formerly the face behind Fairtrade’s work on gold, has teamed up with supply chain traceability expert Vanessa Brain, to provide tailored consultancy services to jewellery and fashion businesses, in a language that's easy to understand.  Launching ahead of the Fair Luxury conference next week, the duo will work collectively with jewellers and manufacturers to help them understand their footprint on the world and grow  profitable, sustainable businesses.  Services offerred will include support to identify supply chain risks,

Contemporary British Silversmiths at the London Design Festival 2019

Contemporary British Silversmiths at the London Design Festival 2019 TRANSFORMING TRAINING: A free day of live silversmithing demonstrations by Contemporary British Silversmiths at the V&A Sunday 15 September 2019 | 10am to 5pm​ Room 66, Silver Galleries, Victoria and Albert Museum​ Live Demonstrations by Tony Bedford, Rauni Higson and Charlotte Tollyfield​ ​A commitment to passing on craft techniques has been central to the mission of Contemporary British Silversmiths (CBS) for more than 20 years. Silversmiths learn their craft over a lifetime and CBS is helping support a new generation of designers to acquire the highest level of craft skills. Join

Bonhams Decorative Art and Design Sale to feature V&A Silver Speaks exhibits

Stunning and pioneering works in silver specially commissioned for the recent Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition, Silver Speaks: ‘From Idea to Object’ will be offered at the Bonhams Decorative Art and Design Sale in London on 27 September.  The exhibition, curated by design critic Corinne Julius, was organised by Contemporary British Silversmiths to mark its 20th anniversary and showcased the very best of British silver design and craft. The sale marks the first collection of contemporary silver to come to auction straight from a significant museum display, and will feature number of pieces including: Animus, a sculptured centrepiece by Kevin

Mari Funaki Award Announce 2018 Winners

Benedikt Fischer, has been announced as the winner of the 2018 Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery in the Established category for his series of five Pearly Whites brooches, made from shell, mother of pearl, remanium and sculpey. Benedikt receives A$8000 (£4,379.78) and his work will enter the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria (subject to approval of the Board of Trustees). The judges said of this work: "What stands out in these pieces is the freshness and humour, as well as the incredible material resolution and skill. It’s difficult to work with shell and create something that isn’t

The Scottish Silversmith Adrian Hope

The Scottish Silversmith Adrian Hope Adrian Hope is one of the UK’s finest contemporary silversmiths who specialises in refined, traditional techniques. An established silversmith since 1980, now based in The Scottish Borders, Adrian creates beautiful, classic pieces that are both sculptural and functional. Public Collections include: National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh; Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum, Aberdeen; The Museum of Edinburgh; Bute House Collection, Edinburgh; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London; Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery, Glasgow; Incorporation of Goldsmiths, Edinburgh Exhibition Run 6 January - 3 February 2018 Venue The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas St, Edinburgh

Dior Exhibition at the V&A is Not One to Miss

The Dior Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, was definitely not one to miss. The exhibition was organised by rooms, each one relating to a specific theme or idea.  When entering the exhibition, it appeared almost like the entrance to a mansion and had dressed mannequins stood at the windows. The entrance started off the exhibition with Dior’s infamous ‘The New Look’ collection in honour of his original work. The extravagant entrance was able to express the high stature of Dior’s brand. The first room, rather fittingly, took me to Christian Dior’s next collection. The similar silhouette

Measured - Sue Lorraine @ Gallery Funaki

Measured -  Sue Lorraine Gallery Funaki, Victoria, Australia 30 July - 24 August 2019 Sue Lorraine is a leading Australian jewellery artist with a practice that spans over thirty-five years. A partner and founding member of the jewellery studio, Gray Street Workshop and from 1999-2008 the Creative Director of the Metal Design Studio, JamFactory, Adelaide. Sue exhibits nationally and internationally and has work in every state collection of Australia. Her exhibition practice is founded in conceptual and research-based methodologies. Sue works predominantly in steel, in a style that is graphic, minimal and refined. More recently she has incorporated found objects and materials into her work

Contemporary British Silversmiths shine at Bonhams Decorative Art Sale

Stunning and pioneering works in silver specially commissioned for the recent Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition, Silver Speaks: ‘From Idea to Object’ were offered at Bonhams Decorative Art and Design Sale in London on 27 September. The exhibition, curated by design critic Corinne Julius, was organised by Contemporary British Silversmiths to mark its 20th anniversary and showcased the very best of British silver design and craft. The sale marked the first collection of contemporary silver to come to auction straight from a significant museum display, and featured number of pieces including: Animus , a sculptured centrepiece by Kevin Grey. In

Appointment: London Diamond Bourse Appoint New Board Members

London Diamond Bourse, the only diamond specific trade association and physical diamond trading floor in the UK, has today announced changes to the composition of its Council of Management. “These are the most fundamental changes to LDB’s governance in my six years at LDB,” said COO, Victoria McKay. She continued, “The following changes are notable; Kathy Chappell, our Special Advisor for Ethical Issues has been welcomed to a full board position and our youngest board member is a millennial. Overall the average age of our board has lowered dramatically and representation around the boardroom table is proportionate to membership statistics."

London Diamond Bourse Announces Workshop Membership

The London Diamond Bourse (LDB) has announced the launch of a new membership category aimed particularly at workshops who find themselves in an untenable situation due to escalating rents in Hatton Garden.  LDB Chief Operating Officer, Victoria McKay commented:   “We know that many mounters, setters and polishers in Hatton Garden are (or are under threat of) relocating away from the area. This is because they are being served notice or finding their rents being pushed to unaffordable highs. This pressure from the property market presents problems as it could lead to the London trade becoming fragmented. LDB does not

Weston Beamor increases presence on Social Media

Over the past ten months, Weston Beamor, the Birmingham casting house, 3D printing and bespoke manufacturing company, has made a concerted effort to extend its reach across various forms of digital media. The results have been extremely encouraging, as evidenced by the significant increase in their followers on numerous social media platforms. Since June 2016 Victoria Maher, a Customer Service Administrator at Weston Beamor, has been managing the company’s social media channels in addition to her day-to-day role. Maher has sought to kick-start the company’s online presence by distributing posts covering a diverse array of topics, including bespoke jewellery, castings,

London Diamond Bourse Joins Responsible Jewellery Council

London Diamond Bourse (LDB) is pleased to announce it is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). LDB is the first Bourse in the world to join the well-known standards and certification organisation. LDB’s Council of Management unanimously voted to apply to join the RJC and will now undertake an independent audit to achieve full RJC Certification.  Victoria McKay, COO commented “LDB has been committed to best business practice for over 75 years. We will now work to achieve independently audited certified status to prove that we are committed to supporting industry transparency and look forward to demonstrating LDB’s

“We wear culture”: Google Arts Collaborates With The V&A

From the fusion of fashion with surrealist art to Vivienne Westwood’s anarchic designs, the V&A collaborates with Google to unlock the world of fashion with a new virtual experience, "We wear culture". The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) joins over 180 renowned cultural institutions around the world from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Palace of Versailles to create the largest ever virtual exhibition of style. The “We wear culture” project by Google Arts & Culture uses state-of-the-art technology to allow viewers to explore 3,000 years of world fashion and discover the stories behind the clothes we wear today.

London Treasures - Silvia Weidenbach Residency At The V&A

City Lit Jewellery Tutor Silvia Weidenbach has been announced as the first Resident for the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Rosalind and Arthur Gilbert Collection. The Gilbert Collection holds a renowned selection of British and European gold and silverware, considered masterpieces of craftsmanship.  The V&A’s website describes it as containing ‘some of the most beautiful objects ever made, many in precious materials, and often on a small scale’. It is famed for the selection of snuffboxes made of gold and silver, highly decorated with precious stones, enamels and mosaics; these intricately detail objects have been providing inspiration for artists and designers

Raid On Design Maker Studios Results in Plea to Help Track Down Over 200 Pieces of Stock

Last weekend, following a successful weekend-long Open Studios event at Cockpit Arts, Holborn, London, a jewellery workshop was targeted and broken into in the early hours of Sunday night /Monday morning and the occupants’ entire stock was stolen. Ros Millar, Victoria Coleman and Alex Hammond had over 200 pieces of jewellery - stock, loose stones and bullion - stolen, wiping out any inventory they had in the run up to the Christmas selling period. Minimal Damage Caused in Break-In The culprits were not caught on CCVT, and managed to enter the building without causing any damage to main doors or

Syanyonja Artisan Miners' Alliance Achieves First African Fairtrade Certified Mine Status

Syanyonja Artisan Miners' Alliance (SAMA) has become the first artisanal small scale mining co-operative in Africa to become Fairtrade certified, bringing much needed hope to impoverished communities who risk their lives to mine the rich gold seam that runs around Lake Victoria. SAMA is one of nine previously informal groups from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania which has benefitted from a pilot project launched by Fairtrade in 2013. This innovative program aims to extend the benefits of Fairtrade gold to artisanal miners across East Africa. In that short time, SAMA has undergone training in business and entrepreneurship, as well as safe