Annabel Hood

Silversmith

©Afonwy Duff

©Caroline Robinson

©Afonwy Duff

From playing with glitter to making with silver

Annabel specialises in engraving on precious metals and shotguns
She raises awareness on important social issues through her craft
Her ancestors practised silversmithing and goldsmithing for more than 200 years

Annabel Hood’s fascination with silversmithing and jewellery making was born out of her childhood passion for creating things, especially if decorated with glitter. "When I expressed my desire to become a primary school art teacher, my mum joked that if I wanted to play with glitter, I should pursue it as a practice," she says. In 2014, Annabel followed her mother's advice and moved from her hometown in Wiltshire to Scotland for a bachelor’s degree in jewellery and silversmithing at Edinburgh University. There, she discovered her love for engraving. She developed her technical expertise with master Howard Fenn and her engraving skills with masters Malcom Appleby and Karen Wallace, with whom she discovered a deep love for this ancient technique. "Engraving allows me to create very illustrative and tactile surface decoration, which I use to tell stories about socially significant issues," Annabel says.

Interview

©Annabel Hood

©Annabel Hood

Why did you choose to work with hand-engraving?: In 2016, I entered the Make Your Mark Awards and won the Silversmithing Category for my beaker design with a hand-engraved leopard’s head. My design was brought to life as part of the prize. As I did not know how to engrave, I attended a short course with the Hand Engravers Association, and I fell in love with the technique.
Is silversmithing a family tradition?: I recently discovered that silversmithing and goldsmithing are in my blood! For more than 200 years, metals were part of my great-grandfather’s family trade. It started with John Edwards who was a goldsmith to George II in the 18th century. Now, I have an even stronger sense of responsibility for passing on the skills I am learning to future generations.
What do you hope to achieve with gun engraving?: In the UK, we are very proud of our British shotgun heritage. As there are very few gun engravers here, it is an honour to be able to work on pieces that are collected by prominent international connoisseurs.
What influences your work?: I am inspired by the unique, stunning landscapes of Scotland. My most recent collection highlighted climate change and melting glaciers. I choose inspiration sources that can be depicted by hand-engraving. These sources also need to have an insightful and educational value that allows my pieces to tell stories and inform viewers.

Annabel Hood is a rising star: she began her career in 2018