Tag Archives: coastal

‘Adorn’ – The Court Cupboard Gallery


Last week I visited The Court Cupboard Gallery for the second time as the jewellery exhibition ‘Adorn’ is now open and I have to say it was looking great! There was some really fantastic jewellery alongside mine and I was really pleased with my display.

………..            ……….

Beside the cabinet of my work you can also see some of my sketches of the beaches, islands and rocks of the south-west coast of Scotland as well as some of my design drawings.
From these you can see how my ideas have developed and the relationship between the designing and making. I hope this adds insight into how much I love the things that inspire me and what I make from that.


Alongside my work there are wonderful collections of jewellery made from various materials – gold, silver, textiles, enamel and recycled materials – by 6 other lovely artists:
Rhi Frankton, Annabel Neilson, Bonnie Mackintosh, Ann Oldfield, Harriet Stiles and Louise O’Neill.

Follow The Court Cupboard Gallery on their Facebook page to see more from this exhibition – they have been sharing photos and artist info every day.

‘Enamel Today’ Exhibition

Last Saturday the exhibition ‘Enamel Today’ opened at 78 Derngate: The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House, Northampton. It is an exhibition of Enamel work by the members of the British Society of Enamellers. As a member of BSOE I am exhibiting some of my ‘Sand and Stone‘ collection.




This fantastic exhibition runs until July 1st and includes the work of over 20 enamel artists. The work includes stunning jewellery and some brilliant wall art and art objects. The work is spread between three parts of the gallery so if you visit make sure you see it all.

See work by some of the other exhibitors below.

On another note, my work can now also be seen the Craft Centre and Design Gallery in Leeds.

New Collection – Coastal Rocks

I made this pendant (below during the final year of my degree. It was a quick experiment I did using a left over piece of copper from something else I was working on. It turned out to be very successful and lead towards the designs of some of my final collection. However, the simplicity of this piece will always be one of the things about it that make it so successful.


I’ve kept this necklace for myself (sometimes you just can’t let something go) but I’ve had many compliments on it and decided to use this design as the basis for a new collection.


The shape is based on rocky coastlines. I have been using this idea to create necklace and earring sets; finding a way to efficiently cut the copper so there is no waste.


Each piece of copper is then coated with 2 layers of enamel. Many of these are different transparent colours on top of an opaque base. These pieces also have sand fired onto them making them tactile and evocative of the beach. On others I have used firescale or sprinkles of another colour to imitate the rock surfaces and the lichen growing on them.


One thing I love about enamelling (although it can also be the worst thing) is that each piece can be a surprise – sometimes the same technique can turn out different each time and the finest change in firing time etc can alter the colour. It makes each piece unique – like these three necklaces.


Another feature of these necklaces is that they can be worn at two different lengths. I have developed a fastening for my necklaces that is both attractive and versatile. I like my jewellery to work with various outfits with different necklines.


I’m really pleased with this collection – I wear a couple of these quite often myself as they work just as well with a t-shirt as a dress. These two colours have to be my personal favourites.



Enamelling Workshop

I’m really excited (and a bit nervous) to be running an Enamelling Workshop next month. As a favour I’ve recently been looking after the Firegems mosaic workshops and in return I am being allowed use of the studio for my own work.
As the spaces for my workshop have been filling up I’ve been stocking up on my enamelling materials and tools. It’s always exciting opening up parcels. Now I’ve got a decent range of enamel colours, decorative media and copper shapes – something for everyone hopefully.




During my time in the Firegems workshops I’ve also been developing a new range of necklace and earring sets. They are looking pretty good so far.

Mission Gallery Showcase

Hannah Duncan Contemporary Jewellery can now be seen at Mission Gallery, Swansea.


The showcase is made up of most of my degree work plus a few new smaller necklaces and earrings. It is going to be on display for the duration of the current exhibition being held there – Situation/Material/Ocean. My work sits well next to this exhibition as it is based on coastal landscapes.


Having grown up in Swansea, as well as regularly visiting the south-west coast of Scotland, I have developed a love for the coast. This work combines enamelled silver and copper with fold-forming techniques and tangles of threads. The contrasting shapes and tactile surfaces are also used to embody the coastal landscape. My jewellery is an attempt to capture the beauty of this landscape and also immerse the wearer in the atmosphere of the shoreline.


So, if you’re in Swansea why not drop into Mission Gallery and check out the current exhibition and my work in the craft area. And while you’re at it why not treat yourself to a necklace or pair of earrings.