26/09/2026
This is me at the bench in 3rd year in the Jewellery and Silversmithing department at Edinburgh College of Art ECA Jewellery & Silversmithing Department in 2000.
Many of you will have heard the sad news about the proposed closure of the undergraduate Jewellery & Silversmithing, Textiles and Performance Costume courses at Edinburgh College of Art
This is a devastating decision by The University of Edinburgh and a petition has been organised to protest this decision, link in bio.
I feel deeply saddened for the students and future generations who may be denied the opportunities that I and so many other graduates were lucky enough to have, and to learn and develop precious handmade skills that are slowly slipping away.
Words cannot express how much the jewellery department means to me. I was incredibly lucky to spend four fantastic years at ECA, with Professor Dorothy Hogg MBE (Dot) as my tutor and Head of Department. We were taught traditional jewellery-making skills, but encouraged to experiment with different materials, draw A LOT, and use all of this to push the boundaries of what jewellery could be. And most importantly to develop our own individual styles.
After graduating, Dot continued to encourage and support me personally and professionally, providing me with stepping stones into the industry. She also gave me the confidence to apply for exhibitions, competitions and prestigious fairs such as Goldsmiths' Fair - fine jewellery & contemporary silver and Chelesa Crafts Fair.
I made like-minded, lifelong friends at ECA, and 24 years on I’m still running my jewellery business from Coburg House in Edinburgh. Coburg House Art Studios is a community that has been home to so many ECA graduates over the years. This is a testament to Dot and the lasting legacy of the department.
A career in art and design isn’t always an easy or financially secure path, but I was lucky enough to find something I love. Jewellery making is still my passion, and having my own creative practice has been hugely important to my wellbeing.
I stand with the staff, technicians, students, graduates and wider creative community calling for these courses to be reinstated.
