An Island of Light1- 30 September 2026
Emily Kidson
©All rights reserved
Emily Kidson
©All rights reserved
Emily Kidson
©All rights reserved
Emily Kidson
©All rights reserved
Emily Kidson
©All rights reserved
Emily Kidson
©All rights reserved

Emily Kidson

Jewellery maker

London, United Kingdom

Between the precious and the everyday

  • Emily's jewellery pieces combine silver and gold with found materials
  • Her work is defined by vivid colour, clean lines and tactility
  • Wood elements come from her late uncle's furniture making offcuts

Growing up, Emily Kidson was always making things. "A bead shop in my hometown provided endless inspiration for my experiments in colour and pattern combinations," she says. Emily took a deliberately broad degree at the University of Brighton, with a course in wood, metal, ceramics and plastics, then spent a year at Bishopsland Educational Trust to sharpen her metalsmithing skills. Watching her husband, a self-employed filmmaker, pursue his creative ambition gave her the nudge she felt she needed to pursue her jewellery making practice. In 2012, Emily set herself the challenge of crafting one piece of jewellery every day for a year, using anything from fabric to plastic, and limiting her making to one hour. Today, working from her studio at Cockpit Deptford, Emily exhibits her creations at Goldsmiths' Fair and Collect.

Emily Kidson is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2005.

INTERVIEW

Each piece begins with a walnut core, laminated between Formica and clamped overnight. Once cured, I hand cut the shapes and set 18-karat gold into drilled holes on the surface, sanding it perfectly flush. I paint into recessed lines and dots for additional detailing.

As a maker, I constantly push myself to master techniques outside my comfort zone. Building on an earlier challenge of creating a piece a day, in 2024 I committed to making one ring per month to overcome my hesitation around custom sizing and fit. I learn so much through these challenges.

My piercing saw resembles a fretsaw, featuring a frame, a fine blade that requires frequent replacement, and a little handle. I sit at my bench and saw upwards and downwards. It is the tool I rely on most, as everything I make is hand cut with it.

I am applying for funding to develop my metalsmithing techniques. I want to make larger, 3D forms in silver. While I feel content in my studio, I am interested in putting myself and my work out there.

Emily Kidson

Jewellery maker

London, United Kingdom

ADDRESS

Studio 307, Cockpit Deptford, 18-22 Creekside, SE8 3DZ, London, United Kingdom

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AVAILABILITY

By appointment only

LANGUAGES

English

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