Spotlight On: Kelda Young

Spotlight On: Kelda Young

Kelda Young graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2020 with a degree in Jewellery and Metal Design. Kelda’s work is inspired by recollected fragmented memories that have been materialised through photography and condensed into abstract shapes by the medium of collage—celebrating the contrast and similarities between the man-made and natural. Kelda was featured in our 2020 Graduate Showcase exhibition at Elements. Since graduating, Kelda has undertaken a residency at Bishopsland Education Trust in South Oxfordshire. We caught up with Kelda to learn more about her work and career in her first year since graduation.

I’ve always been creative and grew up surrounded by making and art. My father has always been a very talented wood worker and craftsperson and has a ‘wing it’ attitude towards projects that I have definitely inherited.  I had no idea jewellery was an option for me to pursue as a career until I attended a portfolio course at Tramway Visual Arts studio in Glasgow after taking a few years out of education after school. I had previously been painting and this course offered the opportunity to work in three dimension, which I had never really explored before. For the first time I was able to look at the body as a canvas which was so exciting and refreshing at that time. I attended an evening course at City of Glasgow College whilst working on my portfolio to get a real feeling for metal and make sure it was for me – it definitely was!

Why did you decide to follow this career path?

I didn’t overthink it at university, I just enjoyed learning the new skills and experimenting with materials. It wasn’t necessarily my plan to set up as self-employed as soon as I graduated but the impact of the pandemic changed the opportunities available. I have really enjoyed navigating the marketplace and working for myself. It is a daily challenge to balance the different aspects of running a business but there is a lot of satisfaction that comes from investing in myself and it’s quite nice being my own boss.  I still hope to work with others – with collaborations, artist residencies and perhaps further education at some point. I know there is still much more for me to learn, and I want to keep expanding my skill set and knowledge of this wonderful craft.

Tactile Cubes Brooch; Green Gold Brooch; Tactile Linear Ring

Can you tell us what you are doing in your career right now and what you are currently working on?

I am currently at Bishopsland Educational Trust which is a post graduate residency programme in South Oxfordshire. Within that I am working on pieces for the annual competition in silversmithing and jewellery. The silversmithing side of the competition is challenging for me but it’s great to have the opportunity to push myself to work in a bigger scale.  We also have the end of year exhibition to work towards and, since some restrictions have lifted now, we have tutors back to teach us masterclasses in specific skills – raising with Ndidi Ekubia most recently. Out with that I am working on establishing myself as a brand. Until recently, I have been working on orders and bespoke commissions. At the moment, I am taking a short hiatus from accepting new orders as I hope to launch my website in the coming months with a new collection.

Follow the Lines Caddy Spoon; Raising Masterclass with Ndidi Ekubia

Where do you draw your inspiration from in your work?

I look through my own photos and draw on my own memories for inspiration, abstracting different elements and creating compositions. I am particularly drawn to clean, bold shapes often taken from structures or architecture; these usually make up the main body of my pieces. I then select small fragments of detail that might often go unnoticed, these traces often represent a more organic and natural element. Together these two contrasting components sit in harmony, creating a perfectly balanced piece. A lot of my inspiration comes through the process of making and my pieces develop from how the metal reacts to my ideas – often things work on paper and not in silver.

How would you describe your design style?

My designs reflect memories that celebrate the contrast and harmonies found between nature and the manmade world, creating bold, one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces in recycled precious metals.

Engraved Mark Making Earrings; Chased Glass Earrings; Magenta Brooch

Tell us about your practice and methods you have developed in your work.

The physical act of making is so important to the success of my work, I love the process and I like to explore the parameters of what I can do with my materials. I hollow form most of my work to maintain the striking scale of the finished piece whilst allowing the jewellery or objects to still be wearable. This also encourages people’s curiosity and to engage with my work – there is an element of surprise as scale usually coincides with weight. I use traditional techniques such as chasing and engraving in a contemporary way, using the techniques to achieve pattern and texture. Sustainability is at the heart of my work and I am increasingly aware of the environmental impact we have as designers and makers. I’m working to ensure every aspect of my practice is as sustainable as possible – from packaging, suppliers and the precious metals that I use.

I often add other materials into my work—recently, I have been using found sea glass or concrete to add a raw, colourful component - but hope to explore alternative materials in the future.

Boxes and Glass Ring; Sea Glass Box Drop Earrings; Shapes and Traces Hoops

What is next for you this year?

In June I will be involved in ‘100 Jewels by 100 Women,’ an exhibition curated by Double Door Studios that was originally scheduled for March 2021 to celebrate 100 years of International Women’s Day. It’s now hopefully going to be a physical exhibition in Dundee, which is very exciting.

I’m here at Bishopsland this year until August, after which I plan on moving back to Glasgow and setting myself up in a shared workshop space. This will be a new phase concentrating on further establishing my business and figuring out what’s next for Kelda Young Jewellery. There are a few things I didn’t feel ready to apply for this past year so I will be working towards them. I love Scotland but I would also really like to spend some time working and living outside of the UK and learn more about silversmithing and jewellery in other parts of the world.

You can keep up with Kelda Young on Instagram @keldayoungjewellery.