Posted on October 31 2016
For a while now Gemma Scully has been one of our favourite jewellery designers here at SEED. Her imaginative pieces are eye catching, unique and completely inspired. The chaos theory lies at the heart of Gemma's pieces, providing continuous inspiration and reason to experiment with metals. This theory and Gemma's creative casting method of dropping molten silver and gold into snow, ice or water leads to some incredible and unusual pieces, each one different from the last. Find the interview we did with Gemma Scully below where you can find out more about her life and creative practice.
Can you tell me a bit more about yourself and why you began designing? As a child I always loved arts and crafts, I made origami boats and knitted with my grandparents as a child. At a very academic orientated secondary school Art was a welcome break. Studying design at University started as a dream, which then became a reality, with the goal of learning to make jewellery always at the back of my mind. I completed a BA hons in Jewellery and Metalwork at UCA and then a year at Bishopsland Educational Trust. I am now a fellow of the trust and a full time jewellery designer maker.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? The only other thing I wanted to be other than a maker was a singer or dancer, it all looked so glamorous, and unfortunately I am tone deaf and a little too short for a dancer!
How would you describe your jewellery? I am often inspired by textures and contrasting looking in nature, photos taken on Sundays hang in my studio of interesting bark, lines in rocks and drifts in the sand. I think this is all reflected in the organic shapes and surfaces in my work. I would say that my jewellery is colourful with striking contrasts
What hasn't gone as you expected in your career? Having trained UCA in Farnham Surrey and then Reading, everything I knew of the jewellery industry and all the contacts I had were based in and around London. I never imagined I would return home to Manchester or base my business here. In the first year I returned I discovered how many opportunities the North West had to offer and now I couldn't imagine working anywhere else.
What are your ambitions? To continue making jewellery for a living and design pieces that people enjoy wearing and cherish. I want my business and my collection to continue growing. I would eventually like my own shop and studio in a little corner of the peak district.
If you inherited an acre of land what would you do with it? I would extend my little herb garden and vegetable pots into a giant patch, growing lots of different fruit and vegetables, with herbs and salads too. There would be a corner with ducks and chickens, I love organic duck eggs and a shed for tools and brews. -
How do you spend a typical weekend? / Sunday? Walking my gorgeous four year old border collie in the peak district, we are slowing ticking off all of the big peaks or taking lots of photos at English Heritage site
What's your motto for work? Work hard, always try, persevere and be unique
Finally, could you choose your favourite item/designer from the SEED shop and tell us why? Lindsay Madden, I love the vintage imagery of children and how she incorporates old school rules, chalkboards and geometry sets. Each is beautifully painted. She has been on my one day wish list for a while.
You can find more work by Gemma Scully here in our jewellery department.