Kathryn Powell (Partington)
Kathryn is an established jeweller, designer, maker and passionate educator.
Her jewellery/design profile is known as Kathryn Partington.
She has worked within higher education for over 10 years and taught within the community alongside her practice.
With 20 years design experience, she originally trained at Staffordshire University with a BA (Hons) in Surface Pattern Design and MA Ceramic Design for Industry. Accumulating in depth knowledge of the design process from concept through to manufacture for tableware, giftware, stationary, accessories, crystal, jewellery and textiles.
Whilst working at Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Kathryn gained appreciation and understanding of traditional skills, ornamentation and history relating to design and the application of decoration to 3D forms. Here, she established a deep admiration for the Japanese aesthetic which led to an exploration eastern/western ideas of design through material led exploration upon her MA in Jewellery and Related products.
Her jewellery explores the surface and application of pattern using a diverse range of process and materials. Juxtaposing simple to complex compositions by placement and layering. Works include but not limited to the combination of natural and hand dyed screen printed silks, hand engraved and slip cast ceramics, metal and enamelled components. Exhibiting both nationally and internationally.
Currently, her practice is transitioning through research and is engaged in a PhD doctoral study ‘Designing wearables to help women with perinatal anxiety.’