Black Isle silver star forges green dream

AN artist transforming a former Black Isle post office is set to be at the forefront of Scotland’s drive to become a world leader in ethical jewellery making and silversmithing.

The woman hoping to deliver is Munlochy-based artist Eileen Gatt who has quit her Edinburgh studio spearhead a new venture in the village she was brought up in.

She’s currently working with the RSPB to create pieces backing its conservation campaigns with a percentage from each sale going directly to the charity’s Scottish endeavours.

When she heard the post office was about to close she made it her own base and started planning to transform it into a small-scale ethical making centre. Visitors will be able to watch makers at work, chat to them about their work and buy or commission pieces of jewellery, gold or silverware.

It was after attending an "eye-opening" symposium staged by the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of Edinburgh that Eileen decided that she wanted to do more. She said: "I suppose it’s down to my own conscience and awareness that every business needs to take responsibility for what it does – by thinking about recycling and where its materials, like gold and stones, are sourced from. Jewellery making and silversmithing can also be quite a mucky, dirty business, using lots of toxic chemicals, so I wanted to adopt greener practices.

"I know there are other makers and designers in the area who are interested in ethical working and would love good workshop space, and a place to learn from each other. It can be very hard to find affordable, quality workspace in rural areas like this but the post office will be ideal.

"At the same time I’ve always loved teaching, so this will be an opportunity for me to have space in the village where I was born, to share skills with people by running classes."

While it will be a lengthy task, her cause has been boosted by a £4000 bursary from the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of Edinburgh, £11,000 from Creative Scotland and £30,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

After teaching at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, she has forged a successful career creating distinctive silverware and jewellery that is often inspired by wildlife.

It is hoped that the new centre will be open for Easter 2019 and will benefit the economy by attracting visitors and customers.

Gatt also plans to devote some of the space to an exhibition showing people more about the process of jewellery making and silversmithing, including where the raw materials come from and the processes used by makers.

Her work recently reached a wider audience as part of a Perspectives exhibition in Edinburgh which acted as a showcase for ethical work.