It is with great sadness that the Trustees of Bishopsland Educational Trust share the news that Oliver Makower passed away peacefully on 4 December 2023.

Oliver co-founded Bishopsland in 1993 with his wife and life partner, Penelope, known to all as Pope. Over 230 young craftspeople have passed through their highly esteemed and internationally recognised post-graduate silversmithing and jewellery training programme at Bishopsland.

Together they also founded the Penelope and Oliver Makower 1974 Charitable Trust which has been commissioning contemporary silver to loan to national museums. The collection consists of over thirty items of contemporary British silver with pieces currently residing at the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), the National Museum Wales (Cardiff) and most recently the National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh).

Oliver was well known, well liked and highly regarded throughout the jewellery and silversmithing community for his tireless enthusiasm and passionate support for emerging makers. His input, drive, energy and generosity of spirit for the Bishopsland project was boundless, and his many connections across the creative industries, arts, craft, business and livery communities were fundamental to the ongoing success of the Trust.

He is remembered fondly for his kindness, his charm and his personable nature, and he will be greatly missed.  We extend our sympathy to Pope, to their children William and Jane, and to their wider family.