Guild of Enamellers Bursary Award 2010

Information posted by Gillie Hoyte Bryom

The Guild of Enamellers is delighted to announce the winner of their annual Bursary Award - Bronagh Mullan who has recently graduated from Birmingham City University, School of Jewellery where her interest in enamelling was sparked when she attended a part-time course by a visiting tutor and practising enameller, Penny Davis. This motivated Bronagh to use enamel throughout her remaining jewellery projects at university, experimenting with opaque and transparent enamels.

The Selectors for the Award were particularly impressed by Bronagh’s rare gift for combining traditional enamelling techniques with modern technology such as laser marking and JewelCAD but all her jewellery is hand-finished. Using plique à jour she brings delicate colourful enamel detail to the more aggressive shapes in her work, harmonizing these two opposing styles to produce a balanced end product. Her passion for enamelling results in well executed detailed pieces in precious metal, incorporating enamel and stone setting in interesting positions.

Bronagh is currently working as a jewellery designer for a manufacturer in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Meanwhile in her own time she continues to experiment with enamelling and hopes to exhibit in the New Year. The Guild of Enamellers is proud to support Bronagh’s ambition to further develop her skills.

The Guild is deeply grateful to joint sponsors - Craft&Design Magazine and W G Ball Ltd for continuing to fund the Bursary Award and we look forward to introducing Bronagh Mullan at the 2010 Spring Conference where she will have the opportunity to exhibit her enamel jewellery, assist a workshop tutor, attend lectures and the master class. In addition to a free place at the popular annual conference, Bronagh will immediately benefit from free membership of the Guild and the opportunity to join any of the workshops in her region and around the UK in the course of the coming year. A programme of events and interesting contributions from enamellers are regularly advertised and reviewed in the Guild’s quarterly journal.

Runner-up, Lydia Feast, has been awarded membership of the Guild of Enamellers for one year. She is also a largely self-taught and well-motivated enameller who has focused on creating surface pattern and exploring the beauty and diversity of enamel through her experiments with enamel transfers and reso screen stencils in particular. Lydia looks forward to the opportunity to learn from others and develop her enamelling techniques through association with the Guild.

Such enthusiasm for enamelling expressed by all entrants for the Bursary Award gave pleasure to the judges on the selection panel who meticulously examined each application followed by close discussion resulting in a unanimous decision. All those who were disappointed not to win the Bursary should not lose heart but continue their personal journey with enamelling and possibly consider joining the Guild of Enamellers in the coming year for a membership fee of £20.

Bursary application forms are available from Easter for the 2011 Award and the closing date is 30th September. We look forward to hearing from you.

Gillie Hoyte Byrom
Guild of Enamellers Bursary Secretary
http://www.guildofenamellers.org/