Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 40

Thread: Best Uni to get a degree in jewelry and silversmithing in UK

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Birmingham England
    Posts
    96

    Default Best Uni to get a degree in jewelry and silversmithing in UK

    Just out of curiosity - where is considered the cream of the crop when it comes to places to study jewelry and silversmithing in England - from a design and making point?

    Thank you

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Market Deeping
    Posts
    2,693

    Default

    They're all over the country and it depends where your area of interest lies
    (and for my next trick I'll tell you how long my piece of string is )
    Ni
    Monthly FREE entry giveaways on Blogs!
    Shop Blog: http://muranosilver.blogspot.com/
    Silver Clay Blog: http://pmctips.blogspot.com/
    View images of my work on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/muranosilver

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Birmingham England
    Posts
    96

    Default

    Hello Again!

    I just ment in general - jewelry more than silversmithing, but preferably both. With a wide range of areas of study, and great teachers who you can really respect and learn from.

    Are the best in London? Birmingham? (one of those I presume?) - or somewhere completely different.

    Its the same in the US - but there are certain schools that stand above the rest.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Market Deeping
    Posts
    2,693

    Default

    I've popped a link to a thread which has a few listed.
    Then there are quite a few talented individuals who teach within their field.
    e.g. lampworking courses.
    I've done courses up and down the country (depending on what i wanted to learn)
    Sorry none in Birmingham though
    Someone from "up North" will probably be up in the morning (it's nearly midnight here) and they'll give you some more suggestions.
    Nic xx
    Monthly FREE entry giveaways on Blogs!
    Shop Blog: http://muranosilver.blogspot.com/
    Silver Clay Blog: http://pmctips.blogspot.com/
    View images of my work on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/muranosilver

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    West Midlands
    Posts
    1,533

    Default

    There's also a link about the pro's and cons of experience versus qualifications....

    http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/jew...fications.html

    Quite a few people choose to go down the short, intense course, rather than a longer degree/qualification course, but its all down to personal choice in the end.

    Let us know how you get on and what you decide.

    Oh and to the forum from me.

    xx
    Jules

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Birmingham England
    Posts
    96

    Default

    Hey Ladies

    Its not really somthing I am looking to do, I was just curious.

    I spent three months at Jewelry Schools : New Approach School for Jewelers in Virginia Beach - which is supposed to be better than most universities there for teaching setting and fabrication etc as well as thinking about processes - but its not directed at using your imagination and being creative, nor does it teach any specific fancy techniques, like mokume, or granulation, or enamelling.

    I was told by the guy who employed me (currently on a break) that he has never employedanyoneafter a university course and didn't beleive in jewelry schools as he had to retrain everyone anyway - Welcome to Leon Meg&#233 The Art of Platinum&#8482

    So just curious really and wanted some feedback.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    108

    Default

    Ok here's my contraversial tuppence worth.

    When I was at art college doing a two year full time jewellery design BTEC, the two places everyone was desperate to get into for their degree was Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design or Central St Martins College of Art, both in London. I chose to get a job as a goldsmith, as after A levels and then the BTEC I was nearly 21 and didn't want to spend another 3 years in education so I've got both qualification and experience.

    The trouble with some short term courses I've looked into since is that they ignore what I think is a major part of jewellery making - design. This was a major part of my BTEC. A lot of people now (not everyone in case people start jumping on my back) seem to do a couple of "silversmithing" courses and then start teaching. After I left the industry I took a short course just to have workshop access - I couldn't believe how little the "tutor" knew . There's far too many people on Etsy, Folksy etc making nearly identical jewellery as all they do is look at other peoples jewellery for "inspiration" because they don't know how find inspiration elsewhere. Another PMC leaf pendant with a lampwork bead hanging off it? Yawn.

    It's not just a simple matter of a qualification versus experience. A degree course will give you experience by exposing you to far more techniques and different materials in fully equiped workshops for 3 years full time so you can try everything and see what you like working with. It won't give you experience as a jobbing goldsmith but if only matters if you want to be a jobbing goldsmith.

    You'll also be in exhibitions and make contacts - if high end jewellery designing is what you want to do then this is where you'll get doors opening more so than a craft fair stall in your local town.

    Here's an example: look up Peter Page's gold and diamond face mask on the Central St Martins website (won't let me post the link until I've got 5 posts). May not be everyone's cup of tea but it was worn by Bianca Jagger at an Ossie Clark show and has been bought by the V&A for permanent display.

    Thats me done. And why I don't post coz I'm sure some people will take take offence. Hey ho.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Barnstaple, Devon, United Kingdom
    Posts
    2,533

    Default

    no offence taken at all, Forget-me-Not () that's a valid and interesting viewpoint. Debate is valuable, don't you think?
    Di x

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Market Deeping
    Posts
    2,693

    Default

    No offence taken from me (cept I quite like the leaf and bead pendants )
    If I won the lottery which would give me enough cash to take a break from my short course,
    build up the business, learn as I go along route....I'd consider re-taking a degree in jewellery
    (my current joint honours is in English Lit & Theology, very useful for jewellery lol)

    I'd agree there are a lot of breaks / networking opportunities available for graduates too.
    Though my 21 year old self would probably not have been equipped to take advantage of them
    Nic x
    Monthly FREE entry giveaways on Blogs!
    Shop Blog: http://muranosilver.blogspot.com/
    Silver Clay Blog: http://pmctips.blogspot.com/
    View images of my work on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/muranosilver

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    West Midlands
    Posts
    1,533

    Default

    No offence taken from me either. A very interesting point you've made there Forget me not. So please keep on posting...
    Jules

Similar Threads

  1. First lesson silversmithing
    By JudyC in forum Show & Tell!
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-09-2010, 09:51 PM
  2. Jo Jukes silversmithing course
    By Petal in forum Jewellery Courses
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 24-09-2009, 01:29 PM
  3. Silversmithing
    By bel in forum Say Hello
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 02-09-2009, 07:34 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •