About

Watch members of Contemporary British Silversmiths demonstrate their silversmithing skills. Throughout the day the V&A is joined by four silversmiths, Juliette Bigley, Caius Bearder, Jamie Watson and Wayne Meeton, showcasing a range of styles and techniques.

Juliette Bigley is a sculptor who uses metal to explore how we experience our emotional and physical place in the world. Her work is abstract and uses conjunctions of geometric forms, and often comprises groups of objects or pieces with which an audience can interact. Juliette exhibits nationally and internationally and has work in public and private collections. A member of Royal Society of Sculptors and a Fellow of Royal Society of Arts, she is represented by Cavaliero Finn.

Caius Bearder is a Glasgow-based silversmith and jeweller. His inspiration stems from his home island of Guernsey. He uses a combination of traditional silversmithing skills and hand engraving to create delicate but dramatic textures, mimicking the play of light on water and coastal forms. Working predominantly in silver, Caius uses engraving to manipulate light into kinetic, almost hypnotic surfaces, creating pieces which are both functional and elegant.

Jamie Watson, who hails from Doncaster, is a playful maker who combines movement and illusion with the traditional skills of the silversmith. His love for the craft comes from the simple act of making something with his hands. He mainly focuses on chasing intricate lines, whether they are flowing and interlinked, or geometric and precise. Jamie has a great appreciation for how a simple combination of lines and curves can come together to create a conversation, the interpretation of which differs from person to person, bringing unforeseen meaning to his work.

Wayne Meeton is an internationally acclaimed silversmith who has also won the esteemed Goldsmiths’ Company Award 2020 for his incredible ‘Dance in the Night Sky Vase’ which includes 7,777 individual gold and fine silver stars. This award is given at the discretion of the Council for exceptional and outstanding design in 2D and 3D entries. This award is only given when, in the Council’s judgement, an entry achieves the highest standard of creative design and originality