Sue Lowday

Training

  • MA Metalwork & Jewellery at Sheffield Hallam University, 2001

  • BA (Hons.) Silversmithing & Jewellery 1974 -78 Sheffield Polytechnic School of Art & Design

  • Leather conservation course, tutor Theo Sturge. 2009

Awards / Competitions

  • 2000, '02, '03, '04, '06 -Yorkshire Arts Award / Arts Council Awards

  • 2003 - Finalist in the Bessemer Gallery open competition, metal category

  • 1999 - The Cutlers Company/Armourers and Brasiers travel award visiting Baltimore and New York (Researching the potential market at the American Crafts Council show held at Baltimore, and research related to the MA project)

  • 1999 - The Cutlers Company/Armourers and Brasiers book prize

Work in the collections of


  • Sheffield Assay Office
 9ct Gold box
Condiment set
Platinum necklace
18ct Gold cutlery
Ivory and lapis lazuli box
  • City of Sheffield Collection, Town Hall
 Sterling Silver Candelabrum
Currently exhibited in the showcases in the foyer
  • Millennium Galleries, Sheffield Museums
 Teaset :
Teapot, milk and sugar bowl - sterling silver.
Jug - pewter
Medal - sterling silver
  • Manchester City Galleries
 5 pieces of precious jewellery
6 pieces of fashion jewellery
  • Goldsmiths Hall, London
 Medal - Sterling silver (designed for Lord Dainton)
  • University of Sheffield
 Water Jug - Britannia Silver 9ct gold
Medal - Sterling silver
Medal - Bronze
  • Walsall Leather Museum
 A collection of six leather belts
Pocket bag
Square capsule bag
Pod purse

Employment

  • 1981 onwards, I have been in full time business running a jewellery and silversmithing workshop, and since 1993 a leatherwork and metal workshop.
  • 2001 - '07, part-time teaching BA Metalsmithing & Jewellery.
  • '07 - '10, MA Design Courses visiting lecturer University of Central Lancashire.

Commissions

  • Lord Dainton, the Chancellor of the University of Sheffield commissioned a silver medal, it was the premier medal of achievement presented annually. Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut received the medal during 1991.

  • Sheffield Assay Office commissioned many of the silver pieces listed for their permanent collection.

  • Lord Dainton, the Chancellor of the University of Sheffield commissioned a bronze medal during 1997 to celebrate the centenary of the sealing of the royal charter, joining Firth College, the Medical School and the Technical School becoming the University of Sheffield.

Private Sales include:

  • H.R.H. Prince Charles
  • Lord and Lady Cottesloe (founder of the Cottesloe theatre in the National Theatre)
  • David Hockney

Exhibitions

Most notably -

'Handmade' Fortnum & Mason, 2010 [leather]
Origin, (the new show organised by the Crafts Council replacing Chelsea) October 2006-2009, [leather]
Art in Action, Waterperrry. 2003 - 2010 [leather]
Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow, Selected exhibitions 2002 - 2009 [leather]
'Country Living', Business Design Centre, Islington, 2001 - 2010, [leather]
'Bags of Style', Walsall Leather Museum, 2007 [leather]
International Women's Day Conference, Home Office, 2007 [leather & metal]
Makers Guild in Wales, October, 2007 [metal]
Origin, (the new show organised by the Crafts Council replacing Chelsea) October 2006, [leather]
'Terrain', Saltburn Gallery, Saltburn, August 2006 [metal]
Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow, Selected exhibitions 2002 - 2006 [leather]
Art in Action, Waterperrry. 2003 - 2006 [leather]
British Library, London Architecture Biennale, 2006 [metal]
'Country Living', Business Design Centre, Islington, 2001 - 2006, [leather]
Contemporary Metal section at the Millennium Galleries, Sheffield, ongoing [metal].
Bankside Gallery, Love for Sale, the Art of Sensuality, London, 2005, [leather]
On the Wall, 2004 [metal].
The International Art and Design Fair, The Armoury, Manhattan, New York.2004 [metal].
The Metal Gallery, 2004-05 [metal].
Wimpole Hall, National trust property. Solo show of metal vessels, 2003
The Curve Gallery, Sheffield. Solo show of metal vessels, 2003
Chelsea Craft Fair, London, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 [leather exhibited]
'Adorned to Perfection' Platform Gallery, Clitheroe, 2003 [leather exhibited]
The Midland Grand Summer Show, St Pancras Chambers, 2003 [metal].
Fire & Iron Gallery, 2002/3 - [metal]
Prema, handbag exhibition [leather] 2002
'Craftcase' Rochester Art Gallery, 2002 [metal]
'Now & Then' Millennium Gallery, Sheffield, 2002 [metal & leather exhibited]
Mall Galleries, (awarded a Distinction '02), 2002, 2003 [metal exhibited]
New York Gift Fair, (with the Crafts Council), 2001 [leather & metal exhibited]
Goldsmiths Hall, Craftsmen Fairs, London [metal exhibited]
Dazzle' Exhibitions [metal exhibited]

Contributor to


Living Metal Project - Silversmithing Hidden Histories. Millennium Galleries, Sheffield 2007

Memberships

  • Elected for membership of the Art Workers Guild 2007

Websites include


'Visual Associations' (axis), www.axisweb.org/artist/suelowday
The Metal Gallery www.themetalgallery.com/artist/4631/cat/silver_cat
British Satellite News, www.bsn.org.uk/view_all.php?id=12343
Crafts Council Photostore www.photostore.org.uk/seMORE.aspx?MID=108800

Publications


Art Workers Guild 125 Years, published by the Unicorn Press.
The book is a photographic record of Guild members in their studio's and workshops alongside descriptive text.