The Goldsmiths’ Company, one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London, awarded its annual Technology and Promotions Bursary for 2003 to Heather O’Connor from the Royal College of Art.
The Goldsmiths’ Company bursary, which amounts to the value of £6,000, has, since 1984, traditionally been awarded to an up and coming second year silversmithing student on the Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery course at London’s prestigious Royal College of Art.
Heather O’Connor (24), who comes from Brighton, impressed her tutors with her skills and commitment to the silversmithing craft. She was nominated for the award by Professor David Watkins, Head of the Department, who commended her to the Goldsmiths’ Company.
In addition to the R.C.A. bursary The Goldsmiths’ Company also offers other grants in the form of precious metal, business training, or financial help to selected students undertaking silversmithing and jewellery courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Heather was also the recipient of a Goldsmiths’ Company precious metal bursary in 2001 and in the same year was highly commended in the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Young Designer Silversmith awards.
Peter Taylor, Director Technology, and Training, at the Goldsmiths’ Company said: “Supporting young graduate silversmiths is very much part of the Goldsmiths’ Company’s ethos. It is the Company’s way of investing in the future of the craft. Heather has shown herself to be a very talented silversmith and we are delighted to have been able to support her as she begins her career.”
