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Caitlin Murphy MSDC

Metal Work

About Caitlin
Caitlin graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 2022 with first class honours. She continued her education, partaking in Bishopsland Educational Trust postgraduate programme for two years where she became a 'Bishopsland Fellow'. This was supported by a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Emerging Maker Scholarship and by the South Square Trust. Caitlin is currently undertaking an Artist in Residency at the Glasgow School of Art. Caitlin challenges the boundaries of silversmithing and jewellery. She creates sculptural objects that migrate between the table and wall and wearable sculptures.
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Caitlin Murphy is an award winning Northern Irish maker. Her work is centred around high levels of accuracy and precision. Drawing inspiration from geometry, mathematics and optical illusions.

Having studied for her silversmithing degree during the pandemic, her bedroom became her workshop. Approaching this setback with an open mind she began weaving paper, which soon migrated to aluminium cans, the closest thing she could find to precious metal. Over time, she has been on a material journey with her work, moving from paper to precious.

Caitlin has experimented in weaving metals including silver, niobium, titanium, copper, brass, gold and aluminium – all thinner gauge than a sheet of paper. Each piece is meticulously planned, from the pattern to hand cutting each individual strip of metal prior to weaving. More recently, she has taken inspiration from colour as she has begun using anodising to transform reactive metals into iridescent shades of colour.

Caitlin's commitment to excellence within her craft is key. She enjoys challenging boundaries within the realm of silversmithing and jewellery. Often exploring geometric shapes using steel and silver welded and soldered frames. By attaching woven metal or folded metal, the frame becomes a three-dimensional canvas for her to play with.

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EDUCATION

  • 2024 - Present : Artist in Residency , Glasgow School of Art
  • 2023 - 2024 : Bishopsland Educational Trust Fellow
  • 2022 - 2023 : Bishopsland Educational Trust Fellow
  • 2018 - 2022 : Glasgow School of Art, Silversmithing and Jewellery, 1st Class BA Hons

AWARDS

  • 2024 : Society of Designer Craftsmen Award for Outstanding Innovation in Craft and Design
  • 2024 : Craft NI Emerging Maker Award
  • 2024 : The Jane Goodman Award
  • 2024 : Retail Jeweller’s Emerging Jeweller Of The Year
  • 2024 : Retail Jeweller, Shortlisted Emerging Jeweller of the Year
  • 2024 : Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Young Artist of the Year Award
  • 2024 : Gold Award Winner - Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council Awards
  • 2024 : Gold Award Winner and Recipient of Clothworkers Company Support - Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council Awards
  • 2024 : Gold Award Winner and Recipient of the Phil Barnes Enamelling Bursary - Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council Awards
  • 2023 : QEST Mark & Tara Boddington Emerging Maker Scholar (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust)
  • 2023 : Design Craft Council Ireland, Future Makers Award - Emerging Maker
  • 2023 : Runner Up, Jacob’s Jewellery Competition
  • 2023 : Graduate Bursary Stand at Goldsmith’s Fair
  • 2023 : Graduate Bursary Stand at Elements Festival of Gold and Silver
  • 2023 : Finalist, Contemporary Cutlery Design Competition
  • 2023 : Silver Award Winner - Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Competition
  • 2023 : Bronze Award Winner - Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Competition
  • 2023 : South Square Trust Silversmithing Award
  • 2023 : Fellowship of Bishopsland Educational Trust
  • 2022 : Design Craft Council Ireland, Future Makers Award - Student
  • 2022 : South Square Trust Silversmithing Award
  • 2022 : Richard H Arroll Memorial Prize
  • 2022 : Talent Spotted by Vanilla Ink
  • 2021 : South Square Trust Silversmithing Award
  • 2021 : Gold Award Winner - Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Competition

EXHIBITIONS

  • 2024 : Handmade Chelsea, London
  • 2024 : Blue Coat Display Gallery, Liverpool
  • 2024 : Dazzle, London
  • 2024 : Goldsmiths Fair London
  • 2024 : Sheep Drive London
  • 2024 : Dazzle Edinburgh
  • 2024 : Craft NI Reaction
  • 2024 : Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Awards Exhibition
  • 2024 : Bishopsland Retrospective
  • 2024 : Craft in Focus at Waterperry Gardens
  • 2024 : Handmade Oxford, Waterperry Gardens
  • 2024 : Bishopsland Pop Up at The Goldsmiths Centre
  • 2024 : QEST Royal Warrant Holders Association Annual Luncheon
  • 2024 : Future Icons Selects, OXO Tower London
  • 2024 : Rising Stars Exhibition, New Ashgate Gallery
  • 2024 : Collect International Art Fair, London
  • 2024 : QEST Northern Ireland Showcase Exhibition with Craft NI Gallery
  • 2024 : Spotlighting Exhibition, Goldsmiths’ Centre
  • 2023 : Bishopsland at Cutlers Hall
  • 2023 : Craft NI, Ag-Au Journeys in Silver and Gold
  • 2023 : Craft NI, Big Bauble
  • 2023 : Elements Festival of Silver and Gold Fair, Edinburgh
  • 2023 : Goldsmiths Fair, London
  • 2023 : Retrospective, Bishopsland Educational Trust
  • 2023 : Bishopsland at New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham
  • 2023 : Henley Arts Trail
  • 2023 : Reading Museum, Demos and Group Exhibtion
  • 2023 : Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Awards Exhibition, Birmingham Assay Office
  • 2022 : Bishopsland Exhibition at Clothworkers’ Hall
  • 2022 : Shine 2022, The Goldsmiths’ Centre
  • 2022 : New Designers, The Business Design Centre
  • 2022 : Degree Show, The Glasgow School of Art Exhibition
  • 2022 : Radical Jewellery Makeover Exhibition
  • 2021 : Bus Stop Jewellery Conversations, GSA Student Exhibition, Online
  • 2021 : Silversmithing & Jewellery Christmas Sale
  • 2021 : Design Domain: ‘Responsibility”, GSA Student Exhibition, Online
  • 2020 : Generation, National Design and Craft Gallery, Kilkenny

COLLECTIONS

  • 2024 : Arts Council of Northern Ireland
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