27 May 2009

Internship reward for graduate

A Jewellery designer who has just graduated from the University of Dundee has further reason for celebration after she landed a prestigious internship with leading local contemporary jewellers, Lorraine Law.

Kimberley Waterhouse (24), originally from Kilmartin in Argyll, beat off competition from classmates at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design to become the inaugural winner of the Lorraine Law Jewellery Designer of the Year award.

Kimberley, whose work is currently being exhibited at the annual Duncan of Jordanstone Degree Show, will showcase her designs in prime window display space at Lorraine Law stores in Dundee and Perth and receive help to make the transition from student life to a commercial environment

She will be intensively tutored in the skills required to create, make and sell collections to retail businesses during a series of one-to-one business-readiness sessions with senior staff at Lorraine Law.

Kimberley, who plans to rent workspace from a gallery in Broughty Ferry to enable her to produce jewellery, said, 'I’m absolutely thrilled. This is a great opportunity as I wanted to set up my own business and this helps by teaching the business skills I need. It’s also fantastic that I’ll get the chance to display my work at shops in both Perth and Dundee.'

Kimberley carefully smoothes, shapes and varnishes small pieces of slate, sourced from beaches in Argyll, by hand to create necklaces and brooches which, when smooth gold and silver glinting is added to them, become luxury fashion items.

She says she has been strongly influenced by both growing up by the sea, and by her interest in collecting objects which are regarded as everyday and uninteresting and giving them purpose.

Her Degree Show exhibit features several pieces of jewellery displayed above a large sandbox to recreate the beach environment from which she gathers much of her materials. She decided to use slate because of its capacity to be subtly altered to suit the jewellery design whilst retaining its strong character.

Kimberley explained, 'Since I was little, I was fascinated by found objects and loved going down to the beach and picking up whatever was left behind.'

'My intention is to take materials that, on the surface, don’t seem all that remarkable and treating them in a way that makes them more precious than people might otherwise have thought.'

'My boyfriend has got used to the idea that we always come back from the beach with a car load of treasures!'

Dr Sandra Wilson, Programme Director for Jewellery & Metal Design at Duncan of Jordanstone heaped praise on Kimberley, and said it represented a wonderful opportunity for future graduates.

She said, 'This is the first year of a new prize that seeks to reward innovative design and commercial potential. The business advice and support for young designers is especially pertinent in these economic times.'

'Lorraine Law creates jewellery for the High Street that pushes the boundaries of contemporary design, and this is a fantastic opportunity for Kimberley, who should be congratulated for her superb and innovative work.'

Dave Doig, Managing Director of Lorraine Law, explained that the business had a long-standing relationship with Duncan of Jordanstone, employing two Jewellery & Metal Design graduates, and having provided exposure and experience to non-jewellery students through a series of other internships.

He congratulated Kimberley on winning the internship, saying, 'In terms of design, what struck us was how fluid the work is, and the fact that Kimberley is using natural materials sourced in Scotland.'

'Kimberley’s drive and determination to succeed came across when we spoke to her, and we’re absolutely delighted to be helping furnish such a young, talented designer to make the transition into the business world.'

LISTING INFORMATION:

DUNDEE DEGREE SHOW 2009
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee

Weds 20th May
'Designs on-The Future' VIP, invite-only event with fashion icon Erin O’Connor, Chair of the British Fashion Council and V&A trustee.
Sponsored by Unicorn Property Group

Preview night - Friday 22nd May

Exhibition open 23 May - 6 June 2009
Monday-Friday 9.30am-8.30pm
Saturdays & Sundays 9.30am-4.30pm (excluding Saturday 6 June when the exhibit will close at 2pm)
Free admission

This exhibition is running concurrently with the Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition.

Vision Building is fully accessible. Car parking is available at Vision

For further information please contact:
01382 385330
exhibitions@dundee.ac.uk
www.dundee.ac.uk/degreeshow.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk