11 May 2006

Jewellery inspired by Scottish Parliament

A range of jewellery inspired by the materials and architectural details of the Scottish Parliament building will be on display at this year’s degree show at the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

Final year design student Jill Slater (21) photographed the Parliament’s stair railings, structural joints and glass window frames during a trip to Edinburgh last year and used the details to develop her product designs which include brooches, bracelets, salt and pepper shakers and platters.

"The building is absolutely beautiful," she said. "The minute you go inside light pours in. It really has to be experienced at first hand."

Jill added that she was impressed by the mix of materials used in the Parliament and the way metals were combined with stone and wood.

Her salt and pepper shakers, which combine aluminium and rosewood, reflect the contrast between the metal piston-shaped posts and wood banisters in the building.

This combination of elegant, traditional design and function within a contemporary motif has also been carried through in her jewellery design.

"It was the materials and the structural detail that really interested me," said Jill, who is from Broughty Ferry in Dundee.

Degree Show 2006 opens to the public on Saturday May 20 and runs until Saturday May 27. It is staged within the DJCAD buildings on the University of Dundee campus.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Images of Jill’s work are available from the Press Office

For further information contact:

Hilary McNally
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: 01382 384768
email: h.mcnally@dundee.ac.uk