Hello fellow exchangers,

Fashionably late to the party, but great to be here!

My name is Stephen Bottomley and I live and work in Scotland. I teach at Edinburgh College of Art www.eca.ac.uk in the Jewellery and Silversmithing department and enamelling is an important part of my practice.

First introduced to enamel back in 1988 at Farnham College by Jane Short, I was immediately fascinated by the material and process and have increasingly integrated it into my work over the past two decades. I began to approach enamel with less ‘awe’ and more ‘bravery’ through teaching it at art school a few years later. Teaching is always a two-way experience and my enamel came to be influenced by many of the highly skilled ceramicists I worked with on the multi-disciplinary course in Hastings I worked at for 13 years.

Time spent working in Bristol with Elizabeth and artists visiting her and Jessica between 2006-10 was an incredibly valuable time. Sharing god practice and ideas was so very important then, so I suppose this is a chance to try it in a different media on line now.

A couple of moves up the UK since then I am now living happily in Edinburgh and enjoying the challenge of a busy department, the inspiring company of inquisitive students and the company of fellow makers (like Elizabeth and Jessica Turrel and last year Mellissa) who visit us and share their skill and knowledge so generously. Together we all work and play and along the way build a culture to contribute to contemporary enamel and this very special art form.

Last week I travelled to Ruthin, in Wales to see the ‘Surface and Substance’  exhibition devised and organised by Jessica Turrell. It is a real gem of a show! I’ll post some images and text next.

I am really looking forward to being part of the Heat Exchange and have already learnt interesting things from the blogs I have read so far and about your special interests.

Flame on!

Stephen Bottomley

Stephen Bottomley trained at the Royal College of Art (1999-2001) having also studied at West Surrey College of Art and Design and the University of Brighton, with a key period working within Rhode Island School of Designs’ metal programme (USA 1998). Stephen established his first studio in 1990 in Brighton with a Prince’s Trust Grant, exhibiting his work regularly in exhibitions and at outlets like Electrum Gallery and Dazzle. He started regular associate lecturing work around the South East coast in 1992. After twelve years lecturing and leading several courses at Hasting College of Art, with the University of Brighton, he relocated to Sheffield in 2004. Between 2004-2007 Stephen divides his time between his jewellery studio and his close involvement with both academic life and the jewellery industry, being both course leader for Metalwork and Jewellery at Sheffield Hallam University and also the fourth Chairman of the ‘Association for Contemporary Jewellery’ (ACJ). Between 2007 and afour year project researching the patterns and textiles at the Fortuny Museum, Venice and a solo shows in Venice and back at Hove Museum and Art gallery in 2008, he relocated to Scotland taking the post of Head of Jewellery and Silversmithing at Edinburgh College of Art (eca). In 2011 eca become part of the world class University of Edinburgh. Jewellery is represented by the Crafts Council and held in collections by the British Museum, Royal College of Art and the South East Arts Crafts.

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