Collect | 28 February — 2 March 2025

4th March 2025

We had an inspiring time exhibiting at Collect 2025! Our special exhibition, ‘Fresh Focus,’ was a collaborative project between QEST and the Society of Designer Craftsmen, curated specifically for Collect 2025. The exhibition showcased nine brilliant makers, each exploring traditional techniques through a contemporary craft lens. From tapestry and glass to metalwork and passementerie, ‘Fresh Focus’ celebrated the traditional craft techniques while embracing innovative, modern interpretations.

A heartfelt thank you to the Society of Designer Craftsmen, Collect, our talented makers, and all who helped make this event unforgettable.

Highlights from ‘Fresh Focus’

Laura Quinn, Glass
Lamella IV

Laura combines traditional glass techniques with digital tools and sustainable materials, exploring themes of growth and endurance. Lamella IV is inspired by fungi and reflects her passion for resilience in the face of challenges.

Epona Smith, Silversmith
Harmony of Spring and Autumn Reverie

Epona’s hand-engraved jewellery fuses European techniques with her oriental heritage, creating intricate narratives in silver. She believes each piece tells a story and can evoke healing for the wearer.

Elizabeth Ashdown, Passementerie
Piece by Piece

Elizabeth redefines passementerie with bold colours and textures, presenting this decorative embellishment as contemporary art. Her work invites tactile exploration and emotional engagement.

Kendall Clarke, Paper & Textiles
Reductive

Kendall explores impermanence in Reductive, a piece where an ancient manuscript gradually fades from view. Light, shadow, and intricate etching create a fragile yet resilient visual narrative.

QEST Makers Across Collect

We were thrilled to see many QEST Alumni exhibiting throughout Collect:

Vessel Gallery: Michele Oberdieck exhibited a new body of Fantasy Plants.
Goldsmiths’ Fair: Caitlin Murphy, Epona Smith, and Sian Evans featured in 100 Rings.
Design Nation: Zoë Wilson exhibited Audere, hand-carved in Portland Limestone.
First of March: Featured works by Rauni Higson and Verity Pulford.
NM Art & Design: Momoka Gomi exhibited Recollection 11-123.
Alveston Fine Art: Anne Athena showcased her ceramics.
Flow Gallery: Featured James Trundle (Apprentice Master for Charlie Jones).

^{Verity Pulford, Dark Treasures}

Thank you to each of the craftspeople for making this year’s Collect such a special collaboration:
Christine Meyer-Eaglestone – Wood – SDC Member
Claire Ireland – Ceramics – SDC Member
Elizabeth Ashdown – Passementerie – QEST Adam Architecture Scholar
Epona Smith – Silversmith – QEST Pewterers’ Company Scholar
Fabrizia Bazzo – Glass – SDC Member
Kendall Clarke – Paper & Textiles – QEST Sanderson Design Co. Scholar and SDC Member
Laura Quinn – Glass – QEST Garfield Weston Foundation Scholar
Margaret Jones – Tapestry – QEST Garfield Weston Foundation Scholar and SDC Member
Samantha English – Metal – SDC Member