Heather McDermott Jewellery specialises in contemporary jewellery. She takes her inspiration from the shoreline on the Isle of Skye, where she grew up and is currently based there.

The tideline of Skye is a treasure trove of unique objects discarded from the urban environment and deposited by the power of the Hebridean swell. Here rope, wood and plastic take on a subtler identity as wind and wave shape, and re-shape form and colour.

These inspirational scenes are developed and translated in my work by utilising shapes and colours. Unconventional in size and structure, each piece is an expression of sculptural form and is designed to create a statement. The continually changing shoreline is my constant source of inspiration and my current collection ‘tidal surge’ is the contemporary interpretation of these surroundings.

The industrial nature of the stainless steel is hand formed into soft geometric shapes mimicking fishing nets and lobster pots. Repetition creates chaotic chain which is then embellished with simple vivid discs of colour inspired by washed up buoys.

Training
2006 – 2007
Foundation Art and Design – Edinburgh College of Art
2007 – 2010
Design and Applied Art BA(hons) – Edinburgh College of Art

2010 – 2011
MA Jewellery – Edinburgh College of Art

Awards
2014
Selected for Zaha Hadid’s showcase at Goldsmith’s Fair.
Goldsmiths Fair Graduate Scheme
Artist Bursary – Creative Scotland
Talent Development Scheme – Atlas

2013
Hi-Arts Visual and Craft Award
Hothouse Programme – Craft Council

2012
The Prince’s Trust Youth – Start-up Grant
Hi – Arts Making Progress Scheme
Hi – Arts Visual and Craft Award

2009
Summer School – The Goldsmiths Company

Past Exhibitions
2014
Cluster – Group Exhibition – Craft Central
Handmade in Britain – Chelsea Old Town Hall (May)
Dazzle – Edinburgh
Made in Sleat – Isle of Skye
30 Years in the Making – Lesley Craze Gallery
Goldsmiths’ Fair – Week 2
Handmade in Britain – Chelsea Old Town Hall (Nov)
Contemporary Jewellery Exhibition – & Collective, Bridge of Allan
Dazzle – Oxo Tower
Adorn – Quercus Gallery

2013
Glasgow University Fashion Show – Glasgow
‘Stainless’ – Galvanise Festival – Sheffield
Contemporary Craft Fair – Bovey Tracey
‘Benchmark’ – Craft Central – London
One Year On – New Designers – London
Craft in the Bay – Summer Show – Cardiff
New Talent – Lesley Craze Gallery – London
Self Led Project – Tormore Project – Isle of Skye
Residency – Naked Craft –  Scottish Sculpture Workshop
Designer Jewellers Group – Barbican – London
Dazzle – Oxo Tower – London
Fourplus – Plockton

2011
New Graduates – The Scottish Gallery – Edinburgh
Postgraduate Degree show – Edinburgh College of Art

2010
New Kids on the Block – Kath Libbert Gallery – Saltmills
New Graduates – Galerie Marzee – Nijmegen, Netherlands
New Designers – London
Degree Show – Edinburgh College of Art