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ANNABEL ELEY
 

 

 

 

Perhaps best known for her work as an award-winning jeweller and goldsmith, Annabel Eley has expanded her creative horizons into the fields of sculpture and painting. Annabel works mainly in Cambridgeshire, but also has a London base, she is a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company.

 

Bold juxtapositions of pattern, texture, and contrasting coloured metals run through Annabel’s jewellery. Working in different coloured golds, platinum, silver, gemstones and pearls, she uses a variety of traditional goldsmithing skills to create her striking and distinctive pieces.

 

Whilst Annabel’s artworks are informed by her extensive jewellery career, each medium has a reciprocal, impact upon the others. She finds it refreshing and inspiring to work in metal on a large scale. The process of making things in steel; cutting, shaping, welding, often presents new ideas and directions. 

 

The enjoyment of texture is also evident in Annabel’s paintings, many of which are in mixed media, painted in oils over a base of collage and acrylic. Often evolving from the landscape, they explore structure, patterns, and grids within it. The excitement generated by working with colour adds new possibilities to the other media.

EDUCATION

 

1978-79 Lincoln College of Art & Design, Foundation Course

1979-82 Central School of Art & Design, BA First Class Honours

1981 Received the Queen Mary Award

1983   Study Tour in South America (March –August)

2011-12 Morley College, part time course in metal sculpture

2012 Northampton College, City & Guilds Level 1 Award in TIG Welding

 

1982 to 1989 Established business, in Fred Rich's Portobello studio, designing and making special commissions for private customers and developing own jewellery collections in gold and precious stones.

1986 Two Pula coin for Botswana to comemmorate the Commonwealth Games, commissioned by the Royal Mint.

1987 Hydra Brooch purchased by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths for their collection.

 

1989 Set up own workshop and design studio in heart of London's West End (Soho W1) concentrating on own distinctive collections as well as undertaking commissions for established clientele. Have also taken part in a variety of De Beers and World Gold Council collections.

1998 The King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes trainer’s prize commissioned by De Beers.

1999 The workshop moved to Cambridgeshire whilst retaining a London base.

2004 Necklace with matching earrings commissioned by the Worshipful company of Goldsmiths.

2018 Clothed as a Liveryman of the Worshipful company of Goldsmiths

 

AWARDS

 

1982 First Prize in Royal Society of Arts Design Bursaries Competition

1982 Commended in Platinum Awards

1983-84 Won competition for Blunt Medal, British Numismatic Society (for portrait medal of Christopher Blunt)

1986 Won competition for the ‘Garrard Gold Medal’ design

1993 Won First Prize in Goldsmiths’ Craft Council Awards (design section)

1994 Nominated for Young Designer of the Year, British Jewellery Awards

1996 Nominated for Designer of the Year, British Jewellery Awards

1998 Commissioned by De Beers to make Trainers Prize for King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Ascot 1998)

1998 Finalist for De Beers Diamonds-International Awards

2014 Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards, silver (pearl jewellery design)

2019 Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards, gold awards in Precious Jewellery and Technical Innovation

2020 Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards, silver award in Precious Jewellery

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITIONS

 

1983 Young Designers Fashion Show, Park Lane Hotel

1983 FIDEM, Florence

1984 Young Blood Exhibition, Barbican

1985 FIDEM, Stockholm

1985 Up and Coming Exhibition, Goldsmiths Hall

1987 Contemporary British Medals, British Museum 

1987 Jewellery and Precious Metals, The Design Centre

1993 The Gold Ring Exhibition, Liberty,London and Festival de L'Or, Paris  

1999 Four London Goldsmiths, New York

2000 Treasures of the 20th Century, Goldsmiths' Hall

2002 Celebration - In Gold and Silver, Goldsmiths' Hall

2003 Modern Designer Jewellery, Fairfax House,York

2005 On The Cuff, Goldsmiths’ Hall

2012 Gold: Power and Allure, Goldsmiths’ Hall

 

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