Karin Paynter MA RCA FRSA

Karin Paynter has over 30 years of experience championing excellence in contemporary craft, specialising in silversmithing and works with artists, charities and arts organisations across craft, visual arts and entertainment. Vocationally trained as a silversmith at Rochester, she has a Masters in Design from the Royal College of Art, where she received the Bakri Yehia Award for tableware. Her career spans craftsmanship, design and production management, including as designer for Tateossian London creating accessories for brands like Paul Smith, Liberty of London and Vivienne Westwood.

She has produced technical research publications for the Goldsmiths’ Company and played a pivotal role in designing and developing the £18m Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell. She directed Silver Speaks (2016), an exhibition partnering with the V&A and Christie’s, and recently Silver in the Fast Lane, featuring Fox Silver, working with Formula 1, the Goldsmiths’ Company, Rolls-Royce and 10 Downing Street also art directing and editing the accompanying book, now held in the libraries of the V&A and Goldsmiths’ Company.

A Liveryman of the Goldsmiths’ Company, Karin serves on its Communications Committee and other key development groups. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Honorary Member of Contemporary British Silversmiths and founding member of the National Association of Jewellers’ industry round table.

She co-founded and serves as Creative Director of ERA5050, a campaign for equality on British stage and screen. Supported by Equity UK, the BFI and the Geena Davis Institute, ERA5050 won a What’s On Stage Award in 2019 for services to the entertainment industry and has driven greater representation of women in UK entertainment.