Career Pathways: Sarah Hutchison

Career Pathways: Sarah Hutchison

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Sarah Hutchison, an award-winning jeweller and silversmith and owner of SH Jewellery in Edinburgh, for our Career Pathways series. Sarah was a jeweller and silversmith for seven years before opening SH Jewellery in Morningside, Edinburgh in 2011. SH Jewellery exhibits collections from carefully selected designers, promising something new and intriguing for visitors to discover. In 2007, Sarah was commissioned by The Incorporation of Goldsmiths to create a drinking vessel for Silver of the Stars. Paired with Sharleen Spiteri of the band Texas, Sarah created an innovative diamond-studded teapot and cups, which are currently on display in Bute House in Edinburgh.

Sarah Hutchison in her gallery, SH Jewellery

Can you tell us a bit about your background and training?

I studied Silversmithing and Jewellery at Edinburgh College of Art after a years foundation course sampling all sorts of creative practices. Jewellery was the one subject that just really felt like my passion. Sitting at a bench with a little bit of copper and a saw frame for the first time I remember thinking 'I love this'. I did my degree and post graduate there before staying on for two years as an artist in residence.

How did you become interested in pursuing silversmithing and jewellery as a career?

While studying I didn't really think about what came next as such, it was only when I graduated and I sold a lot of pieces at my degree show that it really clicked into place that I could make a living from something that I loved creating.

What drew you to working in the world of galleries?

After making my own silverware and jewellery for several years after graduating, I decided I needed a new challenge. I was selling my work through different events such as the Goldsmiths' Fair and other peoples galleries and wanted a change. I moved to London and serendipitously got offered a job managing a contemporary jewellery gallery in Hatton Garden 6 weeks later. I loved that job and was the perfect step to give me the practice almost to setting up on my own.

Tell us about some of the highlights of your career thus far.

Gosh, there have been so many great things its hard to pin point a few. As a designer, having a piece commissioned by billionaire Mr Sethia for the Chitra Collection was a highlight. That teapot is now part of the worlds biggest collection of teapots and was the only contemporary piece that Mr Sethia had ever commissioned that wasn't one of his own designs, As a gallery owner, winning several awards for the business is always special as its my customers who nominate me. I also think making it to (almost) 11 years in business is quite an achievement these days when the high street is suffering more than ever. Especially when my websites really are in dire need of updating!

Tell us about your work at SH Jewellery. What is a typical day like for you?

I think that is part of the beauty of it, there isn't really a typical day. I had a baby in 2020 and so I am only in the gallery 2 days a week at the moment. So it means when I am there I am always super busy, from paper work and accounts, to displays and restocking. However, my passion is still sales. I love talking to customers and trying to find them the perfect piece of jewellery. Whether that be a gift for some, a special piece for themselves or big occasion pieces like engagement rings.

SH Jewellery

You work with and promote many Scottish designers. Where does your passion for this stem from, and how do you select the designers you work with?

When I first opened I knew a lot of jewellers from my years doing shows and from the time I spent managing Platform in Hatton Garden. The contemporary jewellery scene is like one big family in many ways, we all know each other and I love that. My initial collection of jewellers knew me and trusted me and that has just built over the years and I like to think I have a good reputation now from the variety of jewellers I work with. There is such a strong community here in Scotland stemming from the great jewellery departments in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. I love that we all support one another and share our knowledge and experiences. 

What advice would you give to students and young professionals interested in working in the jewellery industry?

Gosh, things keep changing all the time so that is a difficult one. The gallery and exhibition scene changed such a lot after the economy crisis in 2008 and then COVID has changed things completely again. When I was freshly starting out as a designer maker I gave some lectures about how to get your business up and running. I feel now the landscape has changed in terms of self promotion with platforms like Instagram which in some ways I do use but not to its full potential. My website is my biggest down fall of the business but as a creative business woman, it was one of my goals in picking a 'hands on' career that I would avoid computers as much as possible. I do the bare minimum to get by. I love the jewellery industry and would recommend it to anyone.

Images courtesy of Sarah Hutchison.