I am a precious metals artist and educator, with a fascination for ancient silversmithing techniques. In 2022 I completed an MA in Design for Body & Environment at The National College of Art & Design Dublin, concluding that the preservation of handskills is the preservation of humanity.
I believe that humans connect to the world and to their inherent humanity through the hands.
Exploring and adapting the hammer techniques used to create an Iron Age ribbon torc my practice has evolved from primarily designing jewellery and holloware to developing sculptural works that probe the human relationship with material objects. In kinetic sculpturess, experimental works, and other visual mediums such as film I archive ancient endangered techniques and propose a reconnection to the nature within and the nature without by engaging the hands in mindful action. I coined the term Anthropoware to describe these works.
Exhibitions
2023 Collectibles & Curiosities, National Design & Craft Gallery, Ireland
2022 Collectibles & Curiosities, Craft NI, Belfast, Ireland
2022 Immrama: A Journey of the Hands, NCAD Gallery, Dublin
2022 40 Mill Years, Grennan Mill Craft School, Kilkenny, Ireland.
2019 Designworks, The Portershed, Galway, Ireland
2018 Religious Art in The Home, World Meeting of Families, RDS, Dublin, Ireland
2017 Kilkenny Arts Festival, Brid Lyons, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
2016 Exhibition of Sacred Art, Maynooth Seminary, Co Kildare, Ireland
2013 Wexford Arts Festival, Art Panther, Wexford, Ireland
2013 East/West International School of Jewellery, Rajasthan, India
2012 Kilkenny Arts Week, Karen Morgan Porcelain, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
2009 Pushkar Fair, Jatin Handicrafts, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
2008 Kilkenny Arts Festival, Grennan Mill Craft School, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland
2007 Tea, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Jerpoint Glass, Co. Kilkenny
2005 The WASP Factory, Glasgow, Scotland
2004 New Horizons, Arteries Gallery, Bath St, Glasgow, Scotland
2003 Wexford Opera Festival, Greenacres, Wexford, Ireland
2002 The Dunbrody Festival, Dun Mhuire, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland
2001 5 Years On, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Kilkenny, Ireland
Competitions
2000 Church of Scotland, National Competition to design Moderators Pectoral Cross, Winner
1999 Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, bursary winner