Guild of Enamellers’ Names Bursary Award Winner for 2019

Valentina started working with enamels this year as a means to add colour to her work and to complement the use of gemstones in pieces. Valentina’s innovative selection pieces were complex and transformable pieces comprising an etched and enamelled boat “stand” that deconstructed into earrings, necklaces and a ring. Valentina is passionate about enamelling and wants to incorporate it into her future jewellery and silversmithing projects where it will complement traditional techniques such as etching, stone setting and fold forming.

The Bursary Award package will allow Valentina, who is Edinburgh based, to experiment further with other techniques and to expand her enamelling knowledge. Sponsorship will allow Valentina to benefit from conference, workshop and masterclass attendance, printed and online resources, Guild teaching DVDs, enamel tools, equipment and supplies vouchers, enamel sample sets and one year’s membership of both the Guild of Enamellers and the British Society of Enamellers.

The Guild is extremely grateful to joint sponsors The British Society of Enamellers, W G Ball Ltd, Proops Brothers Ltd, Milton Bridge Ceramic Colours and Vitrum Signum for supporting the Bursary Award.  

Thanks to the generosity of the bursary sponsors, Sarah Christian, Estelle Burton, Signe Sternum and Debbie King were awarded runner-up prizes. The prize packages will encourage Valentina and the runners-up to further develop their enamelling skills and exploration of the medium within the supportive networks offered.

The selection panel was impressed by the quality and diversity of the submissions, and were heartened to see the use of traditional techniques such as cloisonné, pliqué-à-jour and champlevé along with more contemporary approaches to enamelling. It was clear that the applicants had a real enthusiasm, passion and flare for enamelling. Both the Guild of Enamellers and the British Society of Enamellers will offer support and networking opportunities to all the applicants as they pursue their enamelling journey.

Bursary application information for the 2020 Award will be available online from April 2019.

Image credits

Valentina Boneva  - Boat 1
Etched, formed and enamelled sterling silver

Valentina Boneva - Necklace 2
Etched, formed and enamelled sterling silver
Stones set in chain.

Valentina Boneva – Earring ring 3

Etched, formed and enamelled sterling silver
Stone set in ring.