Aillie Anderson is a Glasgow based silversmith and jeweller who stands out with her use of materials. She combines silver and Jesmonite to create pieces that are inspired by the urban architecture of her home city.

I first met Aillie at The Goldsmiths’ Centre where she was exhibiting as part of their annual Shine exhibition in September 2019. She had graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2017, already a recipient of a Goldsmiths’ Precious Metal Bursary the same year, with which she made a beautiful collection of textured silver and Jesmonite bowls. These went on to win her the small workers 3D design prize at the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council awards in 2018.

In November 2019 I visited the Elements festival in Edinburgh that is organised by The Incorporation of Goldsmiths’ of the City of Edinburgh and hosted by Lyon & Turnbull in their beautiful showroom in the centre of the city. I was there in my capacity as Deputy Curator of the Goldsmiths’ Collection, but of course there is always time to get inspired personally and this occasion was no exception. In fact I commissioned three brooches on this trip; my usual head over heart “over sensible” standards evaded me completely. But I am so glad they did!

The first piece I commissioned was the one below by Aillie. She had many beautiful pieces in her collection, but of course I wanted something different so we had a lovely discussion around a brooch that was inspired by earrings she had already made (sound familiar?) It was wonderful to see Aillie reach for a pad and start sketching in front of me, so that we could agree on the form and scale, and discuss the colour of the Jesmonite and silver finish.

Such a thrill when the box arrived in the post a few weeks later - the perfect slightly early Christmas present…to myself. More about the other commissions soon.

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