Rebecca Skeels

Biography

I started my business in 1994 after graduating from the University of Wales. I graduated from Central Saint Martin’s (MA Project by Design) and achieved a PGC in Higher Education from the University for the Creative Arts. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

As a designer maker, my work has exhibited across Europe, in the US and in China. I was the Course Leader for Postgraduate courses in Craft at the University for the Creative Arts from 2013 to 2019. Now, I am a Senior Lecturer and Course Director at the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University and External Examiner on the BA (hons) Designer Maker course at Brighton University. 

My position as a design maker, leader of craft courses and as an active member of the UK’s craft industry, provides me with a unique perspective on education and requirements for the future of ‘the crafts’. Materials are my obsession; bridging my work as a designer maker and my role as an educator. The use of materials within my work can be fun, contradictive, functional and thought provoking.

Industry connections

I attended the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) special 23-person industry-wide roundtable, bringing together all facets of the UK Jewellery, Silverware and Allied Crafts sectors, to meet with Sir Chris Bryant MP, Shadow Minister for Creative and Digital, part of the Department for Digital, Media Culture and Sport (DCMS). Since then, the group has been meeting, planning and developing ideas to support, protect and develop the jewellery and allied craft industries.

As well as this, I have attended the Crafts Council Jewellery and Metalwork Roundtable, one of a series of in-person roundtable discussions exploring environmental responsibility with 45 craft businesses and sector organisations, including makers, experts, suppliers, educators, and support organisations. Covering five craft disciplines, these roundtables discussed sustainability as a financially sustainable part of creative practices. Contributing to the ‘How to be more environmentally and financially sustainable in your craft business’ by Caroline Jackman. I am also a member of the board of the Trade Advisory Sub-Committee of the Trustees of the Goldsmiths’ Centre (TASC), as well as a Freeman of the City of London.

I have been a member of the Board of Directors for fifteen years for the Association for Contemporary Jewellery (ACJ), and have been a member of the board of trustees at Farnham Maltings, I have been able to network and gain connections. I am also an active member of the Surrey Hills Arts Advisory group, and have been involved in the Craft Council Hothouse programme, firstly taking part in the interview process of applicants, advising during workshops and sessions for the hothouse participants. I am also a member of the Board of Trustees for the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham, and a past member of the executive committee for the Hand Engravers Association of Great Britain. As a founder member of the Jewellers and Silversmiths Network, I took the leading role in applying for and winning funding to undertake an exchange and run a symposium. The Jewellers and Silversmiths Network (JSN) is a group run by its members for its members to get to know other makers. As members, we enable the group to take advantage of or create opportunities that would not be available to us as individuals. The group regularly exchanges useful information and skills and exhibits as a group allowing people to appreciate and purchase our work.

I keep in contact with the Goldsmiths Centre, the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Weston Beamor, British Art Medal Association, the Worshipful Company of Pewterers, Surrey Hills Arts as well as other organisations that have contributed to competitions, commissioning and funding student activities across postgraduate and undergraduate courses. In the past, collaborative partnerships were also undertaken and cross-disciplinary activities within the University, for example, working closely with the Widening Participation team on Widening Participation Stars Workshops for disadvantaged children, teachers’ days and special events. This helps recruitment for the course, widens locals’ awareness of events within the University and encourages the younger generation to consider Arts and Crafts for their future careers.

Former students

Students I have taught over the years have become designer makers of anything from ceramics, art, jewellery, bicycles and more, tutors, leads in retail, winners of top professional competitions, tutors, teachers, curators and more.

Notable projects

I have had the privilege of working on a few books, including Soldering for Jewellers (2017), published by The Crowood Press. Soldering is one of the most commonly used processes in jewellery, but its potential is often overlooked. This practical book explains the basics of the method but goes on to suggest ways in which soldering can be used to explore ideas and produce unique pieces. Written both for beginners and for those wishing to extend their knowledge, Soldering for Jewellers will inspire a more creative use of this key process.