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When & Where

Quick Facts

  • Availability Yes
  • Tutor Jenny Macdonald
  • Course Code K24MCAD10B
  • Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

This course offers beginners and intermediate students an opportunity to learn afresh or brush up on the basics of metal jewellery-making techniques. Ideal for those who want to get started with precious metal jewellery as a hobby, or for designers who want to develop their jewellery skills further to extend their creative skillset in a new area. For those in jewellery retail this course offers useful insight into the practical manufacture of jewellery items. The course will introduce you to soldering and construction skills for producing pieces such as decorative rings, bangles, earrings and pendants. Non-precious metals such as copper or brass sheets will be available to purchase in the workshop. Silver must be purchased independently by the student and tutors will be happy to advise on buying materials for individual projects. By the end of the course, you will have a good understanding of basic processes for jewellery making and you will produce your own finished piece of jewellery.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Follow a technical project, using new techniques to develop your skill level
  • Work confidently with metals and/or other materials to produce finished pieces of jewellery
  • The ability to identify the correct tools, materials and processes needed to complete the job in hand
  • Work confidently within a shared workshop, applying Health and Safety guidelines
  • Follow a technical project, using new techniques to develop your skill level
  • Work confidently within a shared workshop, applying Health and Safety guidelines
  • The ability to identify the correct tools, materials and processes needed to complete the job in hand
  • Work confidently within a shared workshop, applying Health and Safety guidelines

Class format and activities

This is a practical class and you will be learning to make pieces of jewellery to develop, or build on your skills. You will learn to work confidently with metals and other materials. As a beginner, you will start with a series of basic, practical projects designed to encourage the familiarity with the tools, materials and processes most frequently used in the workshop. As a returning or intermediate student, you will be set a new project each term, usually related to a specialist technique, as well as pursuing your own personal projects. You will learn through group demonstrations and individual, one-to-one help and guidance, with technical and critical advice depending on your needs. The tutor will give demonstrations, presentations and lead group discussions around technical and creative subjects. You will work at your own pace, negotiating individual learning goals with your tutor, and record and assess these on Learning Statements.

Entry requirements

The course is suitable for complete beginners who have no previous experience of jewellery making or metalwork, and intermediate level learners who want to gain further confidence in jewellery making techniques.

What you need to know before you enrol

The jewellery studio is on the 3rd floor of the main building, there is lift access.

What you need

Students may be expected to buy materials for their projects (e.g. silver, saw blades). A comprehensive list of these and suppliers will be provided during the first lesson. A note book for technical notes and design ideas is strongly recommended. New students with previous experience should bring an example of their work. The college provides all of the tools necessary to take part in the course and basic materials in reasonable quantities, such as base metals, paper, acrylic etc.

What you can do next

Enrol onto the 'Beginner and Intermediate Jewellery Workshop' on a Tuesday evening, or the 'Jewellery: Introduction to Wax Carving' class on a Tuesday afternoon.