The Artist Jeweller Residency I applied for over a year ago is based in a studio in the new Sackler Education Centre within the V&A.
The Residency is the joint initiative of the Crafts Council and the V&A and I will be based in the V&A for 3 days a week for 6 months. I am expected to think up ideas for and be involved with various teaching projects, to hold open studios for the public while also contributing to the Maker Development Programme for the Crafts Council.
I have been living in Edinburgh since the early 1970s and my life and family are there. I decided that to make the best of the residency I should rent accommodation in London.
I was a student at the Royal College of Art for 3 years in the late 1960s and early 1970s and for part of the time I had a lovely rented room with a balcony in Chelsea for £2. 10 shillings a week. I was horrified to find the cost of renting accommodation in London now.
Shortly after arriving in London I spent a very pleasant evening with some of my graduates from Edinburgh College of Art who live here. Amongst other questions they asked me, one particularly amused me was I reliving my student experience minus the parties?