Alternative Giving 07

Michelle Keeling

Featured Artist

Michelle has a BA (Hons) in Decorative Arts, Nottingham Trent University.

Based in Stourbridge, Michelle produces distinctive sculptural and functional glass work, jewellery and wall panels for exhibitions and galleries troughout the country who also works to commission.

Selected by the Crafts Council to exhibit in the "Springboard" feature area for the strongest new talent in the sector at "Origin" 2024, Michelle's work was featured in idFX magazine.

Originally inspired by the glacial environments she experienced in New Zealand, Michelle began using broken pieces of glass to translate the similarities seen between the ice and glass.

This experimentation gradually developed into the unique range of work available today. The distinctive pieces either make use of the glass itself as inclusions creating textural pieces, or incorporate metal based inclusions fired at high temporature and then the edges highly polished to create the illusion of a single sheet of glass.

As a result, although shapes and styles of work can be repeated, no two finished pieces are ever the same.

Kiln-formed Glass

Anna Deacon

Graduate Focus

Anna graduated from the Jewellery department of the Glasgow School of Art with a First Class Honours degree this summer.

Artist Statement

I happen to be a turnupstuffer so of course I never have a free moment.

What’s that? asked Tommy.

Somebody that finds the stuff that turns up if only you look of course, what else would it be? said Pippi. The whole world is just filled with things that are just waiting for someone to come along and find them and that’s just what a turnupstuffer does.

Astrid Lindgren

‘Pippi Longstocking’

I spent last summer picking up rubbish that I found on the ground, or being a "turnupstuffer" as Pippi Longstocking puts it. I didn't pick up any old rubbish. I found a lot of washers and nuts and bolts but I also found some really interesting stuff, for example a piece of plastic that looks like a skull and a bit of metal that resembles a monkey's face.

I used the junk I found to make toys - funny little people and animals and robots. Then, inspired by my mother's craft books from the 70's, I decided to make my own soft toys, which I later developed to make fashion accessories.

Jewellery & Quilted Fashion Accessories

Richard & Hilary Bravo

Colour has its own iconography, it can stir deep perceptions or passionate desires, it brings elemental vision in to perspective.

Based in Totnes Devon, R H Bravo's work has a universal visual language; indeed their jewellery is worn and collected by people all over the world.

Paper Mache began it's life in ancient China, came to Europe via Italy and then spread to South America and Russia.

Gold and silver leaf and distressed metal leaf and then a final coating of resin are used in order to emphasise the qualities of texture and depth that makes the pieces entirely waterproof.

Silver & Papier Mache Jewellery

Priscilla Jones - Alternative Giving 2024

Featured Artist

Priscilla has been producing contemporary stiched mixed media pieces in 2d nd 3d since completing her degree in Embroidery at Manchester Metropolitan University in 1997.

Priscilla draws her inspiration from a variety of sources exploring the concept of identity, memory and the strange translucency of time and its effects upon our personal environment. These theories underpin a range of areas within her work includig freelance designs for fashion and interior fabrics exporting to Japan, Europe and the U.S.A.

Priscilla is continuously exhibiting across the U.K. She also lectures part-time on the Foundation Degree in Contemporary Textile Design.

Recently awarded 'Best Product' at Flair 2024.

Contemporary Stitched 2d/3d Textiles

Alison Bell

Featured Maker

Alison trained at Glasgow School of Art, Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art & Design (DA & Post Diploma in Textile Design and Printmaking) and Dundee College of Education, Certificate in Secondary Education, Art / Design. She is a specialist craft advisor to the Scottish Arts Council.

My textile craft practice revolves round reflection, experimentation and creative play; central to this is the environment. The weather is elemental in its effects on the shoreline where wind and water constantly alter its appearance.

The methods I use to explore these changes in surface qualities are based on traditional textile techniques such as painting, printing, stitch and collage on fabric. However the combination of these with digital technology is allowing me to develop ideas more quickly and in greater depth than before.

The new work is created by a combination of drawing, painting, digital photography, scanning, image manipulation, wide format digital printing with fibre reactive dyes and more traditional textile techniques such as overpainting with pigments and stitching.

The fact that the images may be printed almost any size and onto almost any substrate, is very attractive to an artist.

Digitally Printed/Stiched Textiles

Cara Broadley - Alternative Giving

Graduate Focus

Cara Broadley graduated from the Ceramics Department of the Glasgow School of Art 2024. Her work was featured in the GSA Degree Show press release and in the Craftscotland website focus on the best of this years Art School graduates.

I am extremely enthusiastic about all areas of art and design, and consider my specialist areas to lie withinhand-built and slip-cast ceramics, printmaking, painting,drawing and digital illustration.

In addition to my practical abilities, I have an aptitude for conceptual thinking, and often incorporate social and cultural issues into my work.

My interest in museum culture and notions of collecting also influence my designing and making, offering different perspectives on the context of contemporary ceramics and illustration.

Weegie Ware is a range of pieces which celebrate everyday Glaswegian culture by placing it within the context of contemporary ceramic vessels. Through researching the traditional role of ceramic objects commemorating significant events, people and places, my focus has been on elevating the status of the seemingly unimportant or the mundane, the banal occurrences we take for granted and which can pass unnoticed. In addition, as a Glaswegian, my intent was to challenge common perceptions of Glasgow and illustrate the cultural contrasts and eclectic nature it presents.

Contemporary Ceramic Vessels

Sheena May Bowman - Alternative Giving 2024

Graduating from Grays School of Art in Aberdeen in 2024, Sheena May is based on the west coast of Scotland.

She produces a playful and energetic range of fashion and interior accessories where new technology meets the tradition of hand-craft.

The innovative collection of scarves cushions, brooches and skirts combine a wide range of techniques; digital printing, felting, hand-dying, embroidery.

Sheena May takes inspiration from photography, texture and colour; the resulting collection of work exhibits a passion for pattern with a superb explosion of vibrant colour.

Digitally Printed/Hand-felted/Embroidered Textiles

Maggie M Broadley - Alternative Giving 2024

Although born and raised in the city of Glasgow childhood visits to my grand-parents croft on the Isle of Lewis imprinted upon me a deep sense of belonging to that community.

As a second year student of ceramics at Glasgow School of Art, a project exploring the notion of hearth and home began my preoccupation with crofting.

In particular, I found a special strength and aesthetic quality in everyday implements and their construction, curves, notches, pegs, rivets.

Using the vessel as my starting point, the resultant forms echo both the original object and the movement associated with its use, curving, twisting and stretching.

The new body of work also utilizes elements from my current surroundings. Found ingredients in my glazes, ash from our fire, rust collected during weekend walks from abandoned equipment on a nearby farm, lichen and bark from twigs in our wood, add an additional layer of meaning.

The work also alludes to encrusted objects recovered from the sea.

Hand-built non functional Ceramic Vessels

Catherine Bell

Catherine Bell graduated from the Ceramics Department of the Glasgow School of Art in 2024. Shei is one of the makers in residence currently working and teaching in the Ceramics Department.

Derived from my final year project my current work takes its inspiration from carnivorous plants.

With my pieces I try to capture the sometimes alien but

strangely fascinating qualities of these plants.

By throwing elements on the wheel, altering and then

assembling them, my work remains organic and as the

shapes become more outlandish

I try to retain a link with the source material by the use of

red and green glazes.

Like carnivorous plants my pieces have precarious and

delicate characteristics which I cross with a sense of animation and personality. Most of all I like my work to have a sense of fun and hope that the pieces I show

make at least a few people smile.

Thrown/Altered Ceramics & Glass

Liz Brown - Alternative Giving 2024

Heartfelt is a home-based company that flows with the momentum of family life. As a florist who came to felt-making almost 10 years ago, I find my love of nature and natural froms and colours come through each piece I make.

Felt-making is an ancient textile skill that uses natural, renewable resources for limitless creation. Much of the wool I use comes from local sources. Wool is a natural renewable resource, which is warm, breatheable and hardwaring.

I work from Heartfelt Studio set within my garden, which is a custom built space perfect for small workshops.

I an a yurt keeper with the Scottish Storytelling Yurt and we actively promote the joy of felt making as a hand-crafted medium and share the story of this ancient skill with all we meet on our many travels.

Hand-felted Textiles

Eileen Bell

Having worked for many years as a health professional, Eileen's attention was caught by a wonderfully vibrant item knitted by a friend.

A subsequent shopping trip saw her chance upon a stockist of the wool she had admired. Eileen bought some and went home to try her hand at knitting.

From that moment Eileen has been 'hooked'. Over the course of a few years she has graduated from following basic patterns, to adapting patterns, to creating her own designs.

Her most recent departure has seen Eileen making felted fashion accessories using wool from specialist designers. This top of the range is 100% wool specifically made for felting.

Eileen aims to launch her own business as a designer-maker of garments and fashion accessories.

Knitted & Felted Textiles

Islay Spalding - Alternative Giving 2024

Featured Artist

Islay Spalding takes natural forms, surrealist art and nonsense stories as the main inspirations for her work.

Using precious metals combined with coloured resings, she achieves quirky, unique yet wearable jewellery.

Graaduating from the Silversmithing & Jewellery departmant of Duncan of Jordanston College of Art & Design Dundee, Islay is based in Broughty Ferry - creating her studio jewellery collections in a converted garage.

Precious Metal/Resin Jewellery

Laura Murray - Alternative Giving 2024

Featured Artist

Laura Studied Jewellery, Silversmithing and Textiles at Glasgow School of Art. After completeing her Masters of Design, Laura set up her workshop at WASP Studios in 2024.

Laura is a Scottish designer who creates the most exquisite contemporary evening purses, sporrans and accessories in feathers, ribbons and rope!

She has exhibited widely including the Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, New York International Gift Fair, Designers Block, Milan and at the Lighthouse in Glasgow.

Jewellery/Silversmithing/Textiles

Suilven Plazalska - Alternative Giving 2024

Featured Artist

Suilven graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 2024 with a BA (Hons) Design, Silversmithing & Jewellery.

Following one year as Artist in Residence at the GSA, she set up her own business and now works from a studio in WASPS Glasgow having received a start-up award from the Scottish Arts Council and further funding from the Prince's Trust.

In Suilvens work, air and space are constant themes, and she is also influenced by natural rythms such as the heartbeat and breathing.

Her pieces are strongly concept based and alongside traditional materials such as silver and gold, she also uses various plastics and other man-made materials such as latex and balloons and plastic straws. Suilven wants people to look at these materials - objects they might normally consider worthless - in a new light.

Concept Based Designer Jewellery

Lynne Walters - Alternative Giving 2024

Featured Artist

Lynne is a Welsh designer-maker of metal and wire sculpture, inspired by memories of people and places.

She uses a mixture of metal and wire, which include anodised aluminium, mild steel wire, stainless steel, mild steel mesh and found objects.

Metal sculptures depict housing interios and fun and witty interiors. Memories of childhood are quite vivid, small snapshots of time come to her in flashes, triggered by a familiar song, colour or even smell.

She remembers her mother doing the daily chores. Patterns on wallpaper, floor coverings - in this way ordinary objects become very personal and meaningful.

Highly Commended - "Welsh Artist of the Year Award"

Mixed Metal/Wire/Found objects Sculpture

Julie Cumming

Originally trained in jewellery & silversmithing at Edinburgh College of Art, Julie works mainly in silver, semi-precious stones and freshwater pearls under the name of Touchstones Jewellery.

Most of her silver comes from Thailand, with beads and pendants handmade in 99.5% pure silver (purer than sterling silver!) by the Karen Hill Tribes. Silversmithing skills were taught

to them originally under a project instigated by the King of Thailand to provide an alternative source of income to opium poppy farming.

Julie sources the silver she uses only through ethical, fair trade suppliers to ensure a fair wage for the artisans as well as helping to preserve their art, culture and religion.

With a stock of beautiful stones, amazing in all their colour and variety and fabulous Thai silver, Julie gets her inspiration from the materials themselves.

Silver/Beaded Jewellery