Who’s who

Dr Malcolm Appleby MA (RCA)

Master Class Leader and Honorary Fellow of Bishopsland

Malcolm is a pre-eminent British silversmith, with an international following and reputation. Known primarily as an engraver, he applies these skills to jewellery and metal forms. Designs draw from the natural world, myths and elemental ideas, and personal experience. The decorative process becomes complementary to the final form.

www.malcolmappleby.co.uk

Rod Kelly MA (RCA)

Master Class Leader and Senior Fellow, commissioned 1985

Rod specialises in low relief chasing, often inlaying details in fine gold. He makes the silver forms and designs are based upon drawn sketches with decorative chased shapes and patterns. Images are derived from the Norfolk countryside that surrounds his workshop, and inspired by frequent trips to the Shetland Islands.

www.rodkellysilver.co.uk

Peter Musson (RCA)

Bishopsland Fellow 1999-2000 and Course Tutor

I create sophisticated silverware by smoothly combining the freedom of making by hand with controlled computer techniques. I embrace the unique decorative finish of both methods and display evidence of this process. The result is silver pieces that are as honest as they are elegant.

http://www.petermusson.com/

Sheila McDonald MA (RCA)

Master Class Leader

Sheila originally studied Textile Design at the Glasgow School of Art before being drawn towards silversmithing and completing a Masters in Jewellery Design at the Royal College of Art, London.

After many years in Norfolk, Sheila has relocated to Scotland and her current workshop is in Beaverhall Studios, Edinburgh. She also teaches short courses at West Dean College, Chichester.

Sheila is a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company.

Ndidi Ekubia MA (RCA)

Master Class Leader

Through my use of traditional hand raising techniques and inspirations from my African heritage, my statement pieces take on fluid and sensual forms with both a sculptural and functional identity. My work swirls with vitality, and ranges in scale from domestic bowls, drinking vessels and vases, to spectacular wine coolers, salvers and centrepieces. Each year, I enjoy a busy schedule of shows in Europe and the US, commissions for museums and private clients, demonstrations and lecturing.

http://www.ndidiekubia.com/

Chris Green MA

Course Tutor

Since completing his first degree in 1980 Chris has worked in various capacities in the jewellery trade, as well as silversmithing and jewellery education

http://www.cgbespokejewellery.co.uk/

Nan Nan Liu MA (RCA)

Course Tutor and Masterclass Leader, Bishopsland Fellow 2007-08

Nan Nan investigates how to engrave on different forms and create subtle texture. Her work began by experimenting with the balance between nature and ornamentation; looking at tree rings shows the age of the tree, as time creates the beauty.

www.nannanliu.com

Rachel Jones MA (RCA)

Bishopsland Fellow 2011-2012

Rachel’s work is a combination of the simple and beautiful; she seeks to implement this in both jewellery and silverware. Inspired by everyday objects, simple shapes and lines, she designs wearable jewellery and functional objects that are made to last.

http://www.rachel-jones.com/

Henry Ball

Bishopsland 2021-2022

Congratulations to Henry on winning a bronze award for Chasing at the Craftsmanship & Design awards in February 2022

After completing an apprenticeship in thatching, Henry undertook a degree in historic metalcraft practice at West Dean College, where he developed a vast skillset as a silversmith.

Having used many different materials in the past, silver stood out to him above all else. He feels it is a very intuitive and forgiving material to work with and takes comfort in the ever present possibility of melting it down and starting again.

Focusing on using traditional techniques he prides himself on being able to make whatever it is he desires, but in general he tries to emulate natural forms and patterns – his inspiration often coming from his coastal Suffolk upbringing and spending his time outdoors.

https://henryball97.wixsite.com/design

Instagram: @hbfinemetalsmith

Above all else, he wants his work to be considered as tactile. His intent is for people to interact with his work, feel its weight, and see how it catches the light as it is moved around.

Caius Bearder

Bishopsland 2021-2022

My designs stem from my love for the coasts of my home island of Guernsey, specifically the forms and shapes found in rockpools and cliff faces.

The island’s rich and expansive history has left its coasts with a patchwork of architectural structures and unspoilt natural beauty. I draw most of my inspiration from this multitude of natural coastal forms, especially those found in rockpools and at the base of cliff faces.

I work using a range of metals and finishes, which encourage viewer interaction with the work, using the innate preciousness and weight of the metal to help communicate both the grounded physicality of the coastal constructions and the fragility of the smaller organic elements.

The final designs use a range of traditional silversmithing techniques such as chasing and press forming to help reflect this contrast, resulting in tactile, contemporary final outcomes.

Instagram: @caiusbearderdesign

Megan Brown

Bishopsland 2021-2022

Megan is a sculptural fine jeweller who combines contemporary design with traditional craft in unconventional ways.

Inspired by her unique ancestry, dating back over 180 years in both the textile and jewellery business. She trained in the traditional art of jewellery-making after first studying Fashion Design at Edinburgh College of Art. Since then, she has worked as a goldsmith and bespoke designer, before setting up her own business ‘Megan Brown Jewellery’.

www.meganbrownjewellery.com

Instagram: @meganbrownjewellery

Yuyi Cheng

Bishopsland 2021-2022

Congratulations to Yuyi on winning a bronze award for 2D Design at the Craftsmanship & Design awards in February 2022

Yuyi has a degree in Fine Art from Tunghai University, and Fashion Jewellery from LCF. Her work is inspired by details from life and nature and the concept of beauty.

She likes to explore in her work, using diverse materials and creating different styles of metalwork, which express the conflict between contemporary and traditional art.

Instagram: @yuyi0932

Amber Doughty

Bishopsland 2021-2022

Amber delights in the process behind each piece she makes – from researching to determining composition. She enjoys the simplicity of precious metals, to create classical pieces centred in shadow and symmetry.

Inspired by classical civilisations and mythology, Amber’s aesthetic is driven by elegance and the otherworldly; often luxurious in nature, she enjoys using repetition and movement to enhance her work.

Instagram: @amber.doughty_jewellery

Nooneh Karapetian

Bishopsland 2021-2022

“I design statement jewellery pieces. I tend to see finished designs in my mind’s eye. Or I see lines and dots emerging on the paper in front of me, which I follow faithfully.”

Having gained initial training at the British Academy of Jewellery, Nooneh Karapetian’s work centres around bespoke and small limited editions.

The current ‘Nooneh London’ range has been handmade by filigree specialists. In the pipeline is a collection of large, sculptural jewellery that she is fabricating herself.

www.nooneh.com

Instagram: @noonehlondon

Isabella Kelley

Bishopsland 2021-2022

Hot off Isabella’s success at winning the Arts Society Silversmithing competition with her unique and intricate dual-function candle holder, she has now been shortlisted in the Cutler’s Contemporary Cutlery Design competition.

A graduate from De Montfort University with a first-class BA (Hons) in Design Crafts, Isabella’s silverware and jewellery are inspired by texture, pattern and found objects alongside imagery from her local scenery.

She is a process-led maker, driven by exploring and perfecting new techniques. The most recent development within her practice is the combination of Computer Aided Design (CAD) with traditional workshop processes.

Instagram: @isabella_anne_kelley_silver

Sam Lack

Bishopsland 2021-2022

Sam Lack is a Nottingham-based jewellery designer and maker who recently graduated from De Montfort University with a BA(Hons) in Design Craft.

Combining his historical interests with the personal experiences of growing up in Nottingham, Lack uses precious metals to illustrate his inspiration, by transforming them into detailed sculptures and handmade jewellery.

With his most recent collection Street Origins (2021), Lack aimed to reflect on the lifestyle derived from street culture through removing negative stigmas associated with the streets and bringing the culture into a positive light.

During his 2nd year at university, Lack designed and made a solid sterling silver pendant for the Lord Mayor of Leicester as a retirement gift, commissioned by Leicester City Council. Showcasing the style of jewellery Lack associates with, the pendant was made from a combination of detailed hand-pierced silver sheet and solid wax-cast sculptural components.

Instagram: @slak.jewellery_

Jonathan Stokes

Bishopsland 2021-2022

Jonathan Stokes finished an apprenticeship with the British Academy of Jewellery in 2021, and also completed the Gemmological Association of Great Britain Diamond Diploma.

Having spent the last three years as a craftsman jeweller, Jonathan draws his inspiration from the varied clients and pieces he encounters to make jewellery and vessels that reflect both the past and future of jewellery design. He also humbly aspires, after the ancient craftsman Bezalel, to express the spiritual through ability and intelligence, knowledge and craft.

Who’s who

Master Class Leaders and Tutors

Dr Malcolm Appleby MA (RCA)

Rod Kelly MA (RCA)

Peter Musson (RCA)

Sheila McDonald MA (RCA)

Ndidi Ekubia MA (RCA)

Chris Green MA

Nan Nan Liu MA (RCA)

Rachel Jones MA (RCA)

Current year group View our Fellows

Henry Ball

Caius Bearder

Megan Brown

Yuyi Cheng

Amber Doughty

Nooneh Karapetian

Isabella Kelley

Sam Lack

Jonathan Stokes