Out of the fire online catalogue

OU T O F T H E F I R E

THE S COT T I SH G A L L ER Y

O UT OF T HE F I R E 4 - 2 8 J U NE 2 0 1 4

Out of the Fire brings together the work of three established Edinburgh College of Art trained contemporary jewellers specialising in enamel. Stacey Bentley, Grace Girvan and Ann Little all live and work in Scotland and are regular exhibitors at The Gallery.

Ann Little graduated in 1996 Grace Girvan graduated in 2003 Stacey Bentley graduated in 2009

Front Cover: Stacey Bentley, Red Oval Enamel Necklace, 2014, oxidised silver, iron, enamel, 49cms length, ÂŁ1650 Left: Ann Little, Group of enamel necklaces, 2014

STACEY BENTLEY b 1986 Originally from West Yorkshire, Stacey now lives and works in Edinburgh.

After graduating from Edinburgh College of Art she continues to research the use of industrial enamel in contemporary jewellery design.

The urban landscape strongly influences Stacey’s work and she is fascinated by the process of enamelling and the intensity of colour which it produces. Stacey aims to generate a fusion of traditional and contemporary, challenging enamels initial preconceptions. She begins to do this by manipulating the temperature of the kiln as well as playing with the type and consistency of the enamel and the texture of its fired surface.

Her collection elegantly combines industrial materials such as iron with silver and 18ct gold, which has gained the interest and support of buyers, collectors and galleries both nationally and internationally.

Education: 2008 - 2009 MA Jewellery, Edinburgh College of Art 2005 - 2008 BA (Hons) Design & Applied Arts, Edinburgh College of Art 2004 - 2005 BTEC Diploma, Foundation Studies, Leeds College of Art & Design Private Collections include: The Louis and Alice Koch Ring Collection, Switzerland.

Left: Stacey Bentley working in her studio, Edinburgh, 2014, Photo: Gavin White

Red Oval Enamel Necklace, 2014, oxidised silver, iron, enamel, 49cms length, ÂŁ1650

Blue/Green Enamel Brooch - Twist Design, 2014, oxidised silver, iron, enamel, 4.8 x 6.2cms, ÂŁ410

Red Enamel Brooch, 2014, oxidised silver, silver, iron, enamel, 4.5 x 6cms, ÂŁ475

Yellow Enamel Brooch - Twist Design, 2014, oxidised silver, iron, enamel, 5.5 x 5cms, ÂŁ395

Blue Stripe Necklace, 2014, oxidised silver and enamel, 50cms length, ÂŁ1250

Yellow Stripey Brooch, 2013, oxidised silver, iron, enamel, 5.3 x 5.3cms, ÂŁ375

Blue Enamel Brooch, 2014, oxidised silver, iron, enamel, 4.2 x 6cms, ÂŁ395

GRACE GIRVAN b 1981 Grace graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2003 with a BA (Hons) in Jewellery and Silversmithing and currently creates work for exhibition in the UK and abroad.

Grace was born and raised on the Orkney Islands and now lives and works on the coast in Burntisland, Fife. Collecting and studying objects from Scotland’s shorelines is the starting point in her creative process.

The collected objects inform the texture, colour and composition of her jewellery and the objects themselves are often incorporated into the final pieces. Pebbles and driftwood are combined with silver and enamel to creative beautiful, distinctive jewellery. By employing a restrained colour palette of soft greys, blues and greens, Grace aims to convey a sense of calm, which she associates with the sea and shore.

Grace has recentley also been looking at the work of the some mid 20th century artists including Ben Nicolson, Victor Pasmore and Sylvia Wishart, all of whose work she greatly admires. She finds inspiration in the abstract forms, colours and surfaces that appear in their paintings.

Education: 1999 - 2003 BA (Hons) Design & Applied Arts, Edinburgh College of Art Public Collections include: Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums, Aberdeen.

Left: Grace Girvan working in her studio, Burntisland, Scotland, 2014

Rackwick Brooch, 2014, silver, pebbles, enamel, 8 x 6.5cms, ÂŁ640

Cloudy Necklace, 2014, silver, pebbles, enamel, 50cms length, ÂŁ910

Brooch, 2013, silver, enamel, pebble, wood, 5 x 6cms, ÂŁ360

ANN LITTLE b 1973 Ann Little graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1996.

Most of her jewellery incorporates slate or enamel. When she first set up her business Ann concentrated on hand cutting and filing slate, sometimes inlaying silver and mother-of-pearl.

With the purchase of a kiln for enamelling she began to introduce colour combining enamel with slate, making many pieces reversible to give the wearer a choice of colour. Ann uses enamel powder dry, sprinkling on thin layers of colour, sometimes drawing into the powder enamel or rubbing it back once fired to reveal colours underneath. Ann also enamels on thin copper shim overheating the enamel to make it burn away from the raised marks that are scored into the metal. Her latest work now involves simple, bold shapes.

Education: 1996 - 1997 Postgraduate Diploma in Jewellery, Edinburgh College of Art 1991 - 1996 BA (Hons)Art and Design, Edinburgh College of Art Public Collections include: Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum.

National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh.

Left: Ann Little at the bench in her studio, Aberfeldy, Scotland, 2014

Flags Necklace (reversible), 2014, silver and enamel, 45 cms length, ÂŁ390

Flag Brooch I, 2014, silver and enamel, 6 x 6.5cms, £150 Flag Brooch III, 2014, silver and enamel, 7 x 7cms, £150 Flag Brooch II, 2014, silver and enamel, 8 x 6cms, £150

Collection of Folded Earrings, 2014, silver and enamel, 1.5 - 2cms, ÂŁ60 - ÂŁ80

Lime & Windsor Reversible Earrings, 2014, silver and enamel, 3.5 x 3cms, ÂŁ120

Windsor Blue folded earrings, 2014, silver and enamel, 2 cms, ÂŁ80

Disc and Bar Necklace, 2014, enamel and silver, 62 cms, ÂŁ420

Lime & Windsor Reversible Necklace, 2014, silver and enamel, 46 cms length, ÂŁ420

Stacey Bentley, Yellow Stripey Brooch, 2013, oxidised silver, iron, enamel, 5.3 x 5.3cms, ÂŁ375