I am passionate about working with metal and working towards sustainable development goals. Silver and gold are beautiful materials with a long history and I am interested in the value of traditional techniques and approaches in addressing contemporary issues. In my practice I have been developing work with precious metals recovered from electronic waste. We are only recovering around 15% of the precious metals such as gold, silver and copper from e-waste and these are increasingly endangered materials. Much of my practice has involved collaborating with others in biology, anthropology and most recently chemistry. Like an alchemist I am interested in creating things with some mystery. I love the quote from Anthropologist Tim Ingold who says “… the alchemist is interested in materials and what they can do - not what they are!” I have always found the edges of things intriguing, be it the limit of an object or a physical or conceptual place such as the edge of the discipline of jewellery & metal design.

My main technique is Japanese metal damascening known as nunome zogan that translates as cloth weave - it uses chisels to create a cross hartched texture in the metal surface into which thin gold foils (0.02mm) are secured. I also have expertise in silversmithing particularly the lesser known technique of Dutch Raising, and the Ecuadorain method fo ‘hammering on the inside’. I have also taught working with wax and metal casting at the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina, USA. I love old tools such as hammers, and I have a growing collection of lady leg calipers.

My jewellery & metal design has won awards from the British European Designers Group, The Audi Foundation and the Scottish Arts Council.

My research is funded by various research councils including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Arts & Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council. Other funders have included the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh and the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths of the City of London.

Full member Contemporary British Silversmiths

Professional Member Visual Arts Scotland

Professional Member Applied Arts Scotland

Freedom of the Goldsmiths Company

Contributor Art Jewelry Forum

Co editor of Issues 1 & 2 of Journal of Jewellery Research