Rising Stars 2013 at the New Ashgate Gallery champions students and graduates of BA and MA fine and applied arts programmes, enabling new artists and makers to access the market place.
Heather Woof was chosen as winner from an exhibition of 32 artists, selected from an open submission of over 200. She wins a small cash prize for professional development and an exhibition in the New Ashgate Gallery. a-n contributed a mentoring session with a suitable adviser as part of the award.
Woof says: “A love of making drives my work. If I haven’t been in the studio for a while I get itchy fingers. I commute across town to my studio and those blustery days battling headfirst into the wind on my bike make me acutely aware of the forces of nature around us! My aim is to capture this feeling of movement in a tough material like metal.”
Woof studied MA Jewellery at Edinburgh College of Art until 2012 following on from her BA Jewellery and Silversmithing at the same college. She’s looking forward to a busy year filled with exhibitions, shows and fairs, and recognises that it’s important to keep up the momentum and seek out new opportunities to get work seen.
The biggest challenge ultimately is finding a way to earn a living without compromising her own design sensibilities. “I graduated from my BA in 2010 when the UK was already in recession. Some of my intelligent graduate friends are stuck in part-time jobs that they hate and without direction in their lives.”
Woof believes that Edinburgh is a good place to further her career ambitions. “There is a really good community of makers and studios here in Edinburgh. The last few years have seen a host of new galleries, studios and craft organisations open up. The jewellery designer-maker community is strong and supportive.
“Being based at my studio in the Precious Metals Workshop brings me into contact with a wide mix of jewellers with benches there. Everyone has their own special skills and there is always someone around to share experiences and knowledge over a cup of tea.”
Rising stars runs at the New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey, until 4 May. www.newashgate.org.uk
More on www.a-n.co.uk:
Kate Stoddart profiles jeweller Cynthia Cousens, looking specifically at awards, exhibitions and research projects. Read on…
Polly Harknett on jeweller Lina Peterson, including creative/work balance and exploration of markets for her work. Read on…
Kate Stoddart profiles Adam Paxon, who makes one-off sculptural jewellery in plastic. Read on…
