Kathryn Reid
“For each of my medals I have fashioned the material carefully to ensure the narrative behind the piece is clearly embodied.”
“I became extremely familiar with my Dad’s daily working routine on the farm. Every day he would come into contact with a wide range of objects, machines and tools which have become routine to him.”
Kathryn Reid
Jewellery Designer Maker
BA (Hons) Jewellery & Silversmithing
Edinburgh College Of Art
Statement
“Over the years I have continuously been inspired by the natural beauty of the North coast of Northern Ireland, the place where I was born and grew up. This year I chose to focus on a specific part of the County Antrim Coast that is particularly close to my heart – our home farm. The farm has inspired me throughout my childhood, and for my Degree Show I subsequently decided to delve deeper into the beauty of it. In order to generate ideas, a substantial amount of first hand research is necessary. I undertook my own research in the form of note taking, video recordings, photography and quick sketches, as well as completing more elaborate drawings.
My drawings prove to be relatively literal in style, which assists in portraying the underlying narrative and meaning behind them. Through my research, I became extremely familiar with my Dad’s daily working routine on the farm. Every day he would come into contact with a wide range of objects, machines and tools which have become routine to him; yet I perceived these in a different way to what I had previously known. My aim was therefore to capture their narrative in the form of medals, tools and jewellery. Over the year I have developed my skill in wax carving, something I have enjoyed the challenge of, especially when it came to carving the finest details and completing my medals to the high standards that I envisaged. This encouraged me to experiment carving into a variety of materials, as well as translating my carvings into precious metal jewellery. For each of my medals I have fashioned the material carefully to ensure the narrative behind the piece is clearly embodied. Through my medals, tools and jewellery I aim for the audience to experience the challenging and rewarding nature of my Dad’s job, whilst being utterly submerged in the farming lifestyle that inspired me as I was growing up.”
Materials and Techniques
“In my jewellery-making I use mostly silver. To create my jewellery I made my own punching tools where I hand carved green wax and got them cast in steel. I then used these steel punching tools to punch into silver to create my jewellery collection. In my collection I used string to create simple pendant necklaces, silver in the tension-set spinning rings and cast silver to create my signet rings. I also transformed two of my Dad’s old hammers into tools for making jewellery, where I carved into cow bone and cow horn for the handle of each hammer. In my medals I used a range of materials including brass, silver and resin & crushed egg shell. I then used gold plating, oxidation and patination to finish my medals. I hand carved each medal out of green wax. I created an interactive piece, I created a ‘bucket of cow meal’ where the cow meal was made out of dyed polymorph plastic and stamped using my steel punching tools.”
Awards, Exhibitions and News
Based in Northern Ireland where Kathryn has set her business.
Participating in selling fairs at agricultural shows Summer 2019.
Been a judge at her local schools’ Art & Design competition where she once entered as a student.
Secured a stockist at a Portrush Gallery.
Launched her Etsy account to sell her jewellery but also continuing to working on commissioned pieces and creating new designs.
