Gilly Langton
Taking a romantic view of the sea and the life that surrounds and works it, Gilly explores its colour, material and form.
Absorbing herself in iconic references to seafaring folk, she exaggerates the nautical traditions, combining hard and soft materials to emphasize the strength and struggle of a way of life. Using the harshness of the cold metal against the warmth of the hand dyed flexible elastic, the same elastic local Plockton fishermen draw on in their creels.
The changing colour palette of the Highlands echoes her view of the heather blanket hills and continual shift in light reflected in the sea and lochs.
Gilly challenges the properties of control and resilience with minimal aesthetics, creating dramatic pieces of beauty, strength and texture.
Born Chorley, Lancashire 1973
Education
1992-95 BA Honours in Silversmithing and Jewellery, Loughborough College of Art and Design
Awards
2012 Highland and Island Expansion of Business Award
2011 Hi-Arts Makers Award
Craft Development Bursary – Creative Scotland/ DJCAD
2010 Hi-Arts Creative Development award to attend Eu-nique
Business Gateway – Trade award to attend Eu-nique
2003 British Jewellery Association for Excellence in Jewellery
1997 Arts Council North West Setting Up Grant
1993 Platinum Award Finalist
Selected Exhibitions
2012 Open Eye Gallery, Solo Show, Edinburgh
Bonhoga Gallery, Showcase, Shetland
Touched by Scotland, Aberdeenshire
Lustre, Nottingham
Made2012, London
Handmade in Britain, London
Dazzle, Manchester
2011 Philadelphia Museum of Art and Design Fair, Philadelphia, USA
LOOT, MAD Museum, New York
Pittenweem Art Festival
Eu-nique, Germany
The Gest Collection, Los Angeles, USA
2010 Eu-nique, Germany
Origin, London
Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
Sarah Myerscough Fine Art Gallery, London
2009 Stroud International Textile Fair
2008 Precious Cargo, Inverness Art Gallery
Origin, Somerset House, London
Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, Manchester
4+, Edinburgh
Christmas Show, Plockton
2007 Lustre, Nottingham
Top Dog, Bradford Art Gallery
Analach, Scottish Parliament Building
Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh
Leeds Craft and Design Centre
National Museums of Liverpool
Harley Gallery, Worksop
Elements of Change, The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock
The Kilt pin, The Highland Council Tartan Week
New York
2005 SOFA Chicago
Over the Hills and Far Away, Highland Council Exhibition
Plastic Surgery, Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool
Hub, Christmas baubles exhibition, Sleaford
2004 Architecture centre, Bristol
RBSA, Birmingham Disco exhibition
London Fashion Week, spring/summer 2005
Jane Moore Contemporary Jewellery, Leamington Spa
2003 Chelsea Craft Fair, London
Alchemy, Leeds Craft Centre and Design Gallery, Leeds
Commission Me, Urbis, Bluecoat, Grundy
2002 Lighthouse, Glasgow
Crafts Council, London
2001 Make Me, Object Gallery, Sydney, Australia
The World Competition, Kanazawa, Japan
Publications
2012 Hi Arts Reflections
2011 Origin Contemporary Craft Fair – front cover image
The Scotsman magazine 10th December – Most Wanted The Independent 16th February – Creative Holidays Jewellery Course
ArtMag – Pittenweem Arts Festival
2010 Jewellery Techniques by Anastasia Young
2008 Adorn New Jewellery by Amanda Mansell