Jewellery – texture and three-dimensional form with Annie Ruthven-Taggart

Ref: SLW37604

Book now

Places available

About this course

Learn how to imprint textures and patterns on copper and fine silver and use these to create three-dimensional sculptural jewellery. Make your own unique stamp shapes and discover how to use these in the hydraulic press.

Course Description

The first evening will be spent familiarising yourself with the project. There will be a short demonstration and discussion to show the basic techniques you will be learning, which should leave you thinking about your design ideas for the following day.

Day 1: Discussion of jewellery design ideas for the hollow form project to create an item or items of jewellery of your own choice.

A demonstration of how to use the hydraulic press to create your three-dimensional shapes. Guidance will be given on cutting and making stamps from MDF for your designs and forming of rubber shapes to facilitate the process. You will practise pushing out your shapes in copper and a demonstration of soldering techniques to join hollow forms will also be shown.

You will go on to learn how using the hydraulic press is a perfect method for shape forming with textured metal. Demonstrations on texturing metal using the roller mill with fabrics, metal patterns and watercolour paper will be shown and discussed and we will create a sheet of samples in copper and fine silver.

Day 2: Individual discussions and construction of your final pieces with a chosen texture and your stamp will take place. Your final pieces in fine silver will be constructed.

Day 3: The last day will be spent finishing your pieces of jewellery, attaching any necessary findings and bails, etc., followed by a group discussion and viewing of all outcomes.

The course is intended to inspire you to think three-dimensionally about jewellery making and designing, taking you away from just flat, cut out metal shapes. You will learn about the techniques of metal texturing, which are ideally suited to the process of using the hydraulic press to create sculptural jewellery.

By the end of the course, you will have experimented with roller mill metal texturing using a range of materials, learnt to use the hydraulic press, have finished one or two items of jewellery and be inspired to have a more sculptural approach to jewellery construction.

All the above processes are suitable for beginners or students at intermediate level, and the complexity of the course can be tailored to your individual ability.

Course Materials

Included

On this course the tutor will supply:

  • The black rubber needed for stamping the shapes
  • A selection of metal textured plates

The College will supply a basic jewellery kit for use on the course, plus:

  • MDF blocks cut to size
  • Copper sheet 0.7mm thick 85x 85mm -Extra thick sawblades for cutting MDF -Finer blades for metal cutting
  • A4 sheet watercolour paper

What students need to bring

-Apron -Any basic jewellery tools you may have already, such as files, emery sticks -Sketchbook and drawing pens/pencil for designing -Any fabric or textured paper for texturing -A piece of fine silver sheet 0.7 mm thick 90mm x 90mm (available at Cooksons) https://www.cooksongold.com/Sheet/Fine-Silver-Sheet-0.70mm-Half-Hard,-100-Recycled-Silver-prcode-CSF-070&add=n

Available to buy

Available from shop:

  • Sawblades cut 2/0 Vallorbe
  • Extra metal if needed

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Timetable

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 7.15pm for registration. Students arriving earlier are welcome to purchase dinner in the College Dining Room from 6pm.
Students meet their tutor in the Bar at 7.30pm prompt to go to studios.
First Teaching session: 7.30pm - 9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am - 5pm
Morning session: 9.15am - 12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm - 2pm*
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm
Teaching finishes: 3pm

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am. Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

*Lunch can be purchased on campus, view options

General Information

Tutors

Annie Ruthven-Taggart

Annie Ruthven-Taggart trained at Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design and The Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Design and Manufacture at London Guildhall University, graduating with a BA honours degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

Courses of interest

Stone set, fine silver and fused gold (Keum Boo) jewellery

26 to 29 Sep 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Laura Ngyou |
Intermediate
£552

Create your own jewellery – an individual approach

7 to 12 Sep 2025 | West Dean
2 places available
Tutor: Sarah Macrae |
Suitable for all
£732

Plastic smithing – creating jewellery with waste plastics

3 to 5 Oct 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Bronwen Gwillim |
Suitable for all
£324

Jewellery – developing ring linking techniques

16 to 19 Oct 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Alison Evans |
Intermediate/Advanced
£471

Interested in a career in metalwork?

Our Foundation Degree in Metalwork will enhance your employment prospects, give you the skills to set up as a self-employed craftsperson or allow you to continue to higher education. Encompassing both silversmithing and blacksmithing, you will learn practical skills, material properties, placing your work in a broader context and historic metalworking techniques. Find out more