News & Upcoming Events
The first Open Studios for 2023 will be held on the weekend of 13th-14th May at Marchmont Studios, Marchmont Estate. The event is open from 10am till 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
‘We are excited to be able to show you the newly restored Victorian kennels building that has been transformed into the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop - the new home for the contents of the late Master Silversmith Graham Stewart's workshop, kindly gifted to the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust and a project supported by the William Grant Foundation and Marchmont Makers Foundation which is now managed by Master Silversmith Ryan McClean who over the next two-years will mentor three early career Silversmiths: Katie Watson, Scott Smith and Hannah Keddie who will all be hand to show their work.
There will also be an expanded 'Makers Market' where local makers will showcase their works including: our very own Redbraes Pottery, the social enterprise charity Re-Tweed, the print-maker Rosemary Everett printing, basket-weaver Penelope Wilson, illustrator Sara Rhys (doing dog portraits), botanical artist Marianne Hazlewood, millinery from Ginger & Teal, leathercraft by Roslyn Whiting, hand-made skincare from Natural Little Bee organics, Harris Tweed clothing by Pinkminis and The Ridge Project who will demonstrate how to use plants for health and make flower crowns.’
Tickets are free but must be booked in advance.
After studying at the Glasgow School of Art for 3 years and returning as an Artist in Residence for the last year and a half, I have spent countless hours hammering away in the beautiful S&J department. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I have been offered at my time there and am even more thankful to the wonderful tutors, technicians and fellow AiRs who have shared their knowledge and time with me at this early stage in my career. To celebrate the end of the residency, my fellow Artist in Residence are curating and showcasing a collection of our work that we completed throughout our time in Glasgow.
‘Step into “Arcadia”; our utopian world of treasures and new realities following our creative journeys as Artists in Residence at The Glasgow School of Art. A place where you can find roaming bejewelled creatures, textured vessels and objects that challenge your perception. Each artist brings their own unique concept, such as themes of absence, nostalgia, preciousness and materiality, to create a dreamlike experience for our audience. We welcome you to explore our work and join us to celebrate our residency at GSA.’
SaltSpace, Building, Floor 2, Axiom, 54 Washington St, Glasgow G3 8AZ, 10 - 16 May
The 'At Home with Silver' weekend by the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust was held in partnership with Marchmont House and the Marchmont Makers Foundation. It brought together the silversmithing industry and supporters to celebrate the opening of the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop.
‘Woven through the weekend was the passing on of craft skills and knowledge, embodied by late master silversmith Graham Stewart who gifted the entire contents of his workshop to the SGT in 2020 and the raising of a 'common bowl' by participants at the event. Silversmiths Rod Kelly, Brett Payne, Ryan McClean and Angela Cork guided attendees as they completed a course of raising. In line with the ethos of the SGT, the bowl was created from 'Silver AgAIN' - silver recycled from medical x-ray film which helps hospitals recoup money from old x-rays usually stored or sent to landfill.
Present at the event were practising silversmiths, curators, writers, jewellers, funders, industry leaders, supporters, students and silver nerds, all of whom share a love for the material and language of silver and supporting and nurturing excellence in design and making.’ – Karin Paynter
Special thank you to Director and Founder of Marchmont Ventures, Hugo Burge, for his ongoing support throughout this new and exciting opportunity. Thank you also to Lucy Brown and the Marchmont House Staff, SGT, Ebba Goring, Clare Hanna, Eda Obermanns-Johnson and Karin Paynter for a fantastic weekend celebration.
I am incredibly grateful to have undertaken a two-week training course with Rod Kelly at the South House Silver Workshop, Shetland, ahead of the opening of the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop back in February. This training has been made possible by the generous support of Rod Kelly & The South House Silver Workshop, John Andrews and The Pearson Foundation, The Scottish Goldsmiths’ Trust, Marchmont Creative Spaces & The Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop.
I have had time to reflect on progress made after a fabulous fortnight with Rod learning to sink a tray alongside building chasing & repoussé techniques. There is still plenty to crack on with back at the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop with plans to decorate my tray soon as I continue to experiment with the possibilities of the techniques and the limits of the material.
I can’t thank Rod enough for his kindness, generosity and support over these last couple of months. Hannah Keddie, Dr Karen Westland & I had the fantastic opportunity to forge a pair of steel tongs together as well as explore Shetland with Rod and his two beautiful dogs. It truly was a magical experience and I look forward to sharing the final results soon.
Excited to announce that Scott has been chosen as one of four Silversmiths who will be taking up tenancy at Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop, located in the Scottish Borders.
The renovations on site are underway and scheduled to be completed early next year. For more information on this project and to read the full announcement, visit the SGT site.
Scott exhibited during Week Two, 4th-9th October, at Goldsmiths Fair in the Goldsmiths Hall, London.
‘Celebrating 40 years as the primary destination for contemporary silver and fine jewellery, Bringing together 136 of the UK’s most extraordinary Silversmiths and Goldsmiths.’
Scott recently exhibited during Elements: Festival of Jewellery, Silver & Gold at Lyon and Turnbull, Edinburgh from 28th-30th October.
'Elements is Scotland’s only selling fair of contemporary jewellery and silver. Now in its eighth year, Elements will once again bring the finest designer makers from across the UK together with Lyon & Turnbull.'
As part of the prize for winning the Gosset Champagne Award in the 2021 Goldsmiths Craft & Design Council Awards, I was invited to Cognac, France with Louis Latour in January. This bespoke trip included a tour of the Frapin Distillery, a tasting session in the cellars and an overnight stay in the Château at the centre of their vineyard. We sampled various blends of wine & cognac through a paired tasting meal in the heart of Cognac.
‘Their Cognacs are made entirely on the family’s single estate which includes 240 hectares of vines surrounding the Château de Fontpinot with its distillery and ageing warehouses over two levels. The whole property lies in the Grande Champagne area which is regarded as Cognac’s best appellation and is highly prized for both the quality and intensity of its spirits and their longevity.’
I learnt so much about the heritage and craftmanship involved at Frapin Cognac and am extremely grateful to Rebecca Fraser, Louis Latour and the GCDC Team for making this trip so special.
A collection of my work is currently in Spotlighting: Getting Started, A 2023 showcase of early career makers in jewellery & silversmithing in the spotlight on display in the atrium of Goldsmiths Centre, Farringdon, 2nd Mar - 25th Apr.
‘Discover exciting, fresh and innovative work brimming with potential at the Goldsmiths’ Centre.
All spot-lit early career makers successfully completed the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s free introduction to business course, Getting Started Online 2022. They also received further business skills training, tailored to their needs, helping them to build their confidence and best present their work in person and online.’
I am delighted and honoured to be awarded Gold & The Gosset Champagne Award at the Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council Awards last night for my caviar spoon & rest design.
I designed four mother of pearl spoons with a cast silver Gosset Champagne logo draped around the handle with matching cast silver logo rest. Champagne and caviar are a classic and globally recognised wine and food pairing and the bowl of the spoon cannot be made from metal because it can damage the flavour of the delicate sturgeon eggs. ‘To win this three times is unheard of, as it is judged blind, with the judges unaware of the identity of the entrants until the awards ceremony itself. It is an astonishing achievement.’ – Louis Latour.
Glasgow School of Art also won the College Trophy and I am proud of my work as Artist in Residence in the S&J department there. Such a fantastic evening celebrating with everyone and meeting new friends in the industry. The standard of competition was really high, so I am really honoured to have won again. It’s brilliant that Champagne Gosset is nurturing design and creativity with their support for these awards.
International Business Director for Champagne Gosset, Bertrand Verduzier said, “Scott has consistently showed an appreciation of Gosset’s heritage, style and values. His designs speak to the spirit of the champagnes we produce, mixing tradition and modernity. It’s extraordinary that he should be chosen as the outright winner of the award three times!”
Scott recently spent a week with the Contemporary British Silversmiths as part of the Skills Training Programme: Box Making Incorporating a Hinge at the Goldsmiths Centre, London. Thank you to Ray Walton and Stuart Jenkins for their incredible patience, knowledge and help.
