Description
Cara Murphy
Cara Murphy uses traditional silversmithing techniques in her work to create a silver landscape for the table, which is influenced by the natural environment. She has always had an interest in combining silver with other materials. More recently the colours of the Irish landscape have become dominant in her silverware. Adding this colour with transparent vitreous enamel enables her to create organic patterns on the surface the silver that are highlighted by the refraction of light.
Cara trained as a silversmith at Glasgow School of Art and the Royal College of Art, London. She has run her silversmithing business in Northern Ireland since the early 1990s, creating silverware for both private and public commission.
Her silver tableware is represented in many national and international, public and private collections including: The Silver Trust Collection at Downing Street; The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths; the Arts Council of Northern Ireland; the Ulster Museum; the National Museum of Ireland; the Shipley Art Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Aberdeen Art Gallery; the Arts Council an Chomhairle Ealaoin; the Irish Embassy Collection; and the Pearson Silver Collection.
Cara works mainly to commission and exhibits her silverware internationally. Her award-winning silver tableware has been showcased in numerous high profile applied art and silversmithing exhibitions. During her career Cara has also created many prestigious awards, which have been presented by prominent dignitaries.
Cara is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths; an Associate Academician of the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts; a selected member of Contemporary British Silversmiths; and a selected maker with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland Irish Craft Portfolio.
A 2022 QEST Scholarship enabled Cara to study with three master craftspeople – Angus McFadyen, Malcolm Appleby and Jane Short – focusing on engraving techniques to enhance the organic patterns she creates on the surface of her silverware. She also increased her knowledge of working with vitreous enamel to highlight the engraved patterns and allow her to produce larger scale pieces.
