Amy’s homeland inspirations become intricate treasures
Amy Mackay has taken the plunge and opened her own shop. She tells Helen Aird how the Highlands has played a huge part in shaping her finished jewellery pieces
A YOUNG jeweller who has exhibited her work in some of the UK’s most prestigious galleries has taken the plunge and decided to open her own shop.
Amy Mackay uses the natural environment of the Highlands as her inspiration and jumped at the chance to move into Beauly when the opportunity arose.
Now, the 25-year-old has opened Amy C Mackay Jewellery, which adjoins the studio she has been working in this year.
Miss Mackay grew up in Muir of Ord and attended Dingwall Academy before studying at the Leith School of Art in Edinburgh.
While she dabbled in jewellery in the Scottish capital, it was not until she went to the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, where she studied jewellery and metal design, that her passion really took hold.
She went on to become an artist in residence in the jewellery and silversmith department at the Glasgow School of Art, where she worked alongside some of the country’s top jewellery makers, refined her own collection, exhibited her work throughout the UK — including at the Lesley Craze Gallery in London and The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle — and supported undergraduate students.
Then the opportunity arose to create a studio in Beauly, where she has been making jewellery to sell in galleries.
"I have always wanted to open a shop," explained Miss Mackay, of Balvaird Road, Muir of Ord. "I thought Beauly would be an ideal place to set up. There is lots going on and lots of local shops complementing what I am trying to do."
The shop will not only sell jewellery she has made but other items from around the UK and overseas including gold and precious stones.
"I have always liked making things, that’s why I went down the jewellery route," she said. "I have tried a range of different jewellery but silver is such a nice material to work with and I have found there is such a huge range of things you can do with it.
"My home in the Highlands has always been an invaluable source of inspiration. The scenery and natural environment of this area has continually filtered through into my work. The range I am working on right now is inspired by nests. But it is not just that, I go out and gather inspiration, from plants, trees and the countryside. I try to involve lots of different inspirations."
For her range, she has come up with a technique of weaving wires together to make the basis of jewellery as well as decorative vases, bowls and sculptures.
The shop opened on Saturday on Mid Street, the former home of Iain Marr Antiques.
"I am very excited," she said. "I am so passionate about what I am doing. It is exciting to do it, and up here. Hopefully, I am going to be offering something different and exciting to the area.
"People will be able to come in and see new jewellery they maybe haven’t seen before and go away with something they will be able to keep and cherish."
