Bishopsland Educational Trust

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Bishopsland Educational Trust

Bishopsland is a post-graduate training workshops for silversmiths and jewellers. It was founded in 1993.

Members spend one year living and working at the workshops before setting up on their own in pursuit of a professional career. Over 200 graduates have passed through Bishopsland since it began in 1993. Most have established their own business, either designing and making in their own workshop, or managing their own gallery or designing for the retail sector. Forty have gone on to take an MA degree

, thirty one at the RCA. The Bishopsland Contemporary Apprenticeship acts as a bridge between college and the realities of the commercial world. Bishopsland enables craftsmen to polish their skills, to make contacts and to understand the principles of marketing. Bishopsland works on a tutorial system, teaching specialist skills to the highest standard. It lays great emphasis on marketing and professional practice. Both current and past members take part in important national exhibitions, including ‘Contemporary Silver: The Bishopsland Fellowship’ at the V&A, London and the Dovecot Gallery, Edinburgh as well as regularly taking a stand at Collect at the Saatchi Gallery, London. Networking and introductions to galleries are an important part of the course as are crucial commercial skills such as pricing, display, book-keeping and presentation.

24/08/2026

We’re delighted to be heading to The Jewellery Show London at Olympia, 2–3 September, joining the British Allied Trades Federation (BATF) and Birmingham City University on a group stand championing British creativity.

Two makers from our recent cohort, Ella Hamilton and Daniel Worrall, will be representing Bishopsland, with their participation generously sponsored by BATF.

Ella, our recent Jane Goodman Award winner, will be travelling from Scotland to take part, while Daniel, recent recipient of a GCDC Award, will also be joining us.

It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to showcase their work, make new industry connections and experience the jewellery trade first-hand.

A huge thank you to Tom Jones, Chair and CEO of BATF, and to BATF for supporting Ella and Daniel and making this opportunity possible through The Creative Pathway, their initiative supporting emerging makers with trade-show exposure, networking and industry insight.

📍 The Jewellery Show London, Olympia
📅 2–3 September
📌 Stand P01 — Upper Floor / Balcony

If you’re attending, come and say hello!

Birmingham City University | BCU
BATF
Jewellery Show 🇬🇧
DODI WORRALL
Ella Hamilton

17/08/2026

Two days, five visits and an incredible introduction to Birmingham’s jewellery and silversmithing trade.

Last month, our whole Bishopsland cohort headed to the Jewellery Quarter for an Industry Experience, kindly supported by the Goldsmiths’ Centre.

We went behind the scenes at Argex, explored Andrew MacGowan’s commercial silversmithing workshop, saw the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games medals being produced at Toye, Kenning & Spencer, and followed the journey from CAD and casting to bench work and finishing at Weston Beamor.

We ended at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, stepping inside the remarkably preserved Smith & Pepper factory.

Taking place just as the cohort were preparing to leave Bishopsland, the timing was perfect. They came away with new knowledge, valuable contacts and greater confidence in approaching the trade.

A huge thank you to the Goldsmiths’ Centre for making this possible, and to Andrew MacGowan, Shaun Westwood and the Argex team, Frederick Toye and everyone at Toye, Kenning & Spencer, and Ed Hole and the Weston Beamor team for welcoming us so generously.

The Goldsmiths' Centre
Argex Silver
Weston Beamor Ltd

24/07/2026

RETROSPECTIVE 2026 - Tomorrow!

Join us for Bishopsland’s annual Retrospective Exhibition.
Retrospective marks the culmination of ten months of making, learning and professional development, celebrating the achievements of this year’s Bishopsland cohort as they complete our residential programme for emerging silversmiths and jewellers.

The exhibition showcases new work developed during their time at Bishopsland and offers the opportunity to meet the makers, explore our workshops and see first-hand the breadth of talent emerging from the programme.

The afternoon is also a celebration of the cohort’s achievements. We will present the Jane Goodman Award and welcome this year’s cohort as Fellows of Bishopsland, marking the next stage in their professional careers.

Whether you’re a collector, maker, student or simply interested in contemporary silver and jewellery, we’d be delighted to welcome you.

📅 Saturday 25 July 2026
🕞 3.30–7.30pm
📍 Bishopsland Educational Trust
Hills Yard, Buscot, Oxfordshire, SN7 8BY

🎟 Admission is free. Please reserve your place via the link in our bio.

We look forward to welcoming you.

06/06/2026

Brilliant to be exhibiting & delivering demonstrations at Goldsmiths North this weekend. There are so many Bishopsland Fellows here along side us we feel right at home! Thank you to for supporting our exhibition schedule.

14/05/2026

We're proud to share Cynthia's creative journey since leaving Bishopsland in 2025. To expand her practice, meet new people and experience living in sunnier climes, she undertook a three-month residency in Athens with the Jewellery Artist in Residence Program (JAIR) — an international initiative run by the

The program supports contemporary jewellery artists through research, experimentation, and creative exchange, offering access to the museum’s workshops and historical collections while encouraging new perspectives in studio jewellery.

Through the support of the JAIR Program, Cynthia expanded her portfolio and pushed her experimental designs further, building on the skills developed during her time at Bishopsland.

“I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity. Following my work at Bishopsland, I’ve been able to develop my skills and motifs further, while also learning entirely new techniques. One of the highlights has been collaborating with, and learning from, fellow residents. The JAIR Program has given me real clarity in how I want to approach my work and practice, and has led to many personal discoveries. And to top it all off, living in Athens has been an unforgettable experience.”

If you're an early career Maker and want to extend your skills and network just like Cynthia has done, we are recruiting the last remaining places on our 2026/27 programme - details and to apply in the bio and on our website.

Congratulations Cynthia, we're looking forward to seeing your new work and supporting the next steps in your career.

06/05/2026

We’re excited to showcase silversmith Annie Higgins at Cutlers' Hall on 12 May, presenting work developed during her residency at Bishopsland Educational Trust.

Thanks to generous bursaries from South Square Trust and The Benevolent Society, Annie has been able to spend a year to push her practice in new directions—embracing ambitious, large-scale object making and working in silver for the first time.

“Working in such a supportive and well-connected environment has been vital,” Annie says. “It’s helped me apply my hammer skills to new processes like raising and chasing, and deepen my understanding of the wider silversmithing industry. The bursaries have given me invaluable time to fully focus—allowing me to quickly build confidence and technical precision.”

Her dedication is already being recognised, including receiving a GCDC Junior Award.

Join us on 12 May to meet Annie and experience her work in person—free tickets via the link in bio. She’ll also be demonstrating at the with during .

https://bishopsland.org.uk/events/cutlers-hall/

28/04/2026

Applications are now open for our 10-month residential Silversmithing & Jewellery Programme starting September 2026. If you are completing your degree or apprenticeship, or are an early career maker, we offer a launchpad for career success.

Join a unique community of makers and take your skills, ideas, and practice to the next level.

What’s included:
• Immersive masterclasses to extend your making skills
• 1:1 tutoring to develop your design voice and technical ability led by our Principal and master silversmith
• 7-day-a-week workshop access with your own dedicated bench
• Bursaries available for fees, tools, and materials
• Selling opportunities, exhibitions, and online shop exposure
• Exclusive private handling events
• Accommodation
• A supportive, creative community living and working together

Find out more via the link in our bio or get in touch: [email protected]

Photography credit : Peter Flude Photography

27/04/2026

Bishopsland is proud to support the National Saturday Club and the National Trust’s Heritage & Rural Skills Centre.

The National Saturday Club exists to inspire and engage 13–16-year-olds—encouraging them to learn new skills, discover their talents, build friendships, and explore rewarding career paths. These aims closely reflect Bishopsland’s own values.

This year, we have contributed to the programme by delivering five weeks of silversmithing sessions. Responding to the Heritage & Rural Skills Centre’s theme of protecting, rejuvenating, and celebrating hedgerows, sixteen young participants have worked in copper and silver to design, cut, pierce, and file intricate representations of hedgerow flora and fauna. With one session remaining, the group will bring their pieces to life through enamelling—an exciting finale we are very much looking forward to.

Participants also have the opportunity to experience a wide range of other heritage crafts, including ceramics, pargetting, decorative wood carving, blacksmithing and more, taught by skilled craftspeople based at the National Trust’s Coleshill Estate.

It has been a pleasure to share our passion for silversmithing and to see the confidence and creativity of these young people flourish. For many—particularly those who are home educated—the Club provides a welcoming, low-pressure environment in which to connect with others, make friends, and engage in guided, hands-on craft. We are so grateful to for making us so welcome.

16/04/2026

Last week, we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming twelve talented HND and degree students into our workshops for a special two-day silversmithing taster session.

Led by our Principal ANGELA CORK, with brilliant support from Jamie watson and DODI WORRALL, these small, hands-on sessions were all about sharing our love of silversmithing, while helping participants grow their skills, confidence, and creative networks.

Thanks to the generous support of The Goldsmiths’ Foundation (we’re so grateful 💛), each maker received silver bullion to bring their ideas to life—press-forming a spoon bowl, forging a handle, soldering the pieces together, and carefully finishing each piece to beautifully high standards.

Alongside time at the bench, participants also heard inspiring talks from and Alice Fry | Contemporary Niobium Jewellery and Silverware, sharing how these successful Makers have forged their careers. Chris Oliver shared how the Goldsmiths’ Centre supports craftspeople, while our Trustee Glenn offered valuable a insight into commissioning and collecting. Practical handouts on funding opportunities and career pathways helped round out the experience.

By the end of the two days, everyone left with their finished silver spoons, new skills, new friendships, and a connection to the Bishopsland & Goldsmiths' Company networks. Plus a gallery of stunning photographs by Sophie Mutevelian to illustrate their social media presence, digital portfolios and academic submissions.

It was a joy to watch each piece take shape, and to see creativity and craftsmanship flourish.

If you’re graduating in 2026 and would like to join the Bishopsland programme, we’d love to hear from you—get in touch to find out more.

Photography credit

The Goldsmiths' Centre

jewellerybyilr
Gayna Alexander

💎DiAS Jewellery💎
Ella Robinson
Gem
lou.scott

BespokebyBrittain

Address

Buscot
Faringdon
SN78BY

Website

http://www.bishopsland.org.uk/

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