Eight jewellers and makers return to their port of origin for a special reunion exhibition.
Coburg House has been a hub for creativity since 1999 when the former granary was converted into artists studios. 24 years on, ‘Homecoming’ sees eight artists return to their port of origin for a special reunion exhibition. Some of these artists were there in Coburg’s earliest days, when artists only occupied the middle of what is now three floors of studios. Back then, the spaces were separated only by curtains, it was a far cry from the sophisticated warren of creative spaces you see there today. Others joined at later stages throughout the development of the building. Some stayed for years, and others spent a fleeting visit before moving on to other ventures. In this mixed exhibition of jewellery in a multitude of media, painting and papercuts, these eight artists cross paths once more, as they have continued to do in many ways since their various departures from Coburg.
Hannah Louise Lamb was one of the first artists to join Coburg back in 2004. She was instrumental in setting up the Open Studios, which have since become a permanent fixture in Edinburgh’s cultural calendar.
Hannah’s jewellery collections portray a sense of home and belonging, which for her, as a child of Cornwall and resident of East Lothian always comes back to the coast. Unique and iconic pieces in gold and silver depict coastlines and landscapes near and far, that curve and flow with minute intricacy. Inspirations gathered from maps, landscapes, coastal borders, and textures from the coastline influence the textures and profiles in her work.
From 2005 – 2009 Grace Girvan and Sally Grant shred a studio in the upper floor of Coburg, which was most easily located by following the sound of giggling. Both make precious jewellery inspired by nature.
Sally Grant works mainly to commission, inviting her clients to be a part of the story of their jewellery, collaborating with her to mark a significant occasion. Sally uses intricate, hand-carving techniques and photoetching to translate the intricacies of the natural world into textural designs on precious metal. She is a collector of individual and unique gemstones which add an indulgent depth of texture and beauty to her jewellery. Her tactile handmade heirloom pieces evoke thoughts and memories of time, seasons and place.
Grace Girvan’s Orcadian origins are clearly evidenced in the coastal spirit her jewellery exudes. Foraged objects from Scotland’s shorelines inform the colour, composition and texture of Grace’s elegant and minimalistic jewellery. Meticulously selected pebbles are carefully curated alongside silver and enamel to create graceful compositions. Her love of the shore saw her relocate from Edinburgh to Fife, where she and Sally can still be found sharing a studio to this day, in Burntisland’s Platform Studios.
Sarah Hutchison is a process led jeweller, engaging very directly with the metal and, exploring it’s inherent properties through intricate saw piercing. Large areas of manipulated silver are delicately studded with innovative additions of precious gems and pearls. The resulting jewellery is floral, delicate and feminine in appearance, with a real feeling of spontaneity.
Sarah was a fleeting resident in Coburg back in 2011, stopping off briefly on her return to London. Later that year Sarah opened the iconic door of her Morningside based gallery, SH Jewellery, that has been an important part of Edinburgh’s cultural landscape ever since.
Kathryn Adamson trained originally as a jeweller, and started out her Coburg career as such, before her practise took a more painterly direction. The paintings Katherine create are inspired by the lines, shapes and textures of organic forms, mostly plants and flowers. She works quickly and intuitively. Richly textured surfaces formed by dense layers of acrylic, wax pastels, pencil and gold leaf imbue her compositions with a sense of depth and spontaneity.
Kathryn hasn’t left her jewellery roots behind entirely though. She can be found alongside Sarah at SH Jewellery, assisting her in the smooth running of the gallery.
Rebecca Wilson’s delectable jewellery collections in pastel porcelain and silver aim to transport you back to the retro sweets of your childhood. Everyday pleasures are reimagined in precious materials in a collage of pleasurable indulgence. Her work in porcelain and silver explores the concept of value, elevating seemingly inconsequential everyday things to reflect their hidden value through a process of re-materialisation.
Rebecca trained originally as a ceramicist, and joined Coburg as part of what was once the inexplicably cold ‘big ceramics studio’, now split up into somewhat cosier studios on the first floor. After Coburg she spent several years in East Lothian, before relocating to Dunblane where she co-owns Craft Central, a community space for creating and learning, with fellow maker Jo Pudelko.
Jo Pudelko’s bold statement jewellery explores a continued fascination of how we interact with the environment around us – particularly examining the space where the natural world and the manmade world collide. Casting from household objects she highlights connections between our more intimate concept of ‘home’ and the greater responsibility to the planet we live on. Jo specialises in casting techniques and often utilises found objects in her practice.
Jo spent several years at Coburg while also working nearby at Leith School of Art. Her passion for craft education has followed her to her current location in Dunblane, where she has built arguably one of the best jewellery teaching facilities in Scotland at the Central Scotland School of Jewellery.
Emily Hogarth is conspicuous as the only non-jeweller of the group, but her treasure trove of a studio on the second floor was a destination location for many open studios. Emily’s intricate papercuts bring a harmonious enhancement to this exhibition of makers.
Through her motto ‘making the everyday magical’ Emily tries to capture the magic of the Scottish landscape and its wildlife combing these with her recognisable floral and faunas. Working mainly with papercuts, Emily loves the combination of boldness and delicacy that they bring to designs. As well as some of her iconic designs, Emily will be presenting a new exclusive collection of birdlife, observed on her many walks along the coasts of her home county of East Lothian.
Emily moved to East Lothian following in the footsteps of Hannah and Rebecca, and for some years they formed a mini enclave of ex-coburgers, occupying almost identical houses with garden shedio’s in a small Musselburgh cul-de-sac.
OPENING TIMES:
Friday 24th March 2023 - 6pm to 9pm (Opening night)
Saturday 25th March 2023 - 11am to 4pm
Sunday 26th March 2023 - 11am to 4pm
