It's the Wedding Season! Register Your Wedding Gift List With Artery Gallery

An art gift from Artery Gallery is not only a beautiful addition to any home but can also be an investment for the future. Artery Gallery are able to organise your wedding gift list, so you can be a little different and receive a memorable wedding present that you will cherish for years to come.

As the bride and groom, you can choose Artery Gallery as one of your wedding gift list venues. Guests can purchase the selected art you have chosen in your list, whether they buy individually or club together in groups.

Alternatively, the bride and groom can request guests to buy Artery Gallery gift vouchers. These can be purchased individually by guests, and then collected together by the happy couple at the appropriate time. The gift vouchers can then be brought into either of the galleries at a time to suit themselves to choose their favourite pieces of art.

Our wedding gift registration service offers you the opportunity to commemorate your wedding day with a list of gift ideas for your friends and family to choose from.

Anything from clocks and sculpture, to paintings and wall hangings are available, giving you the inspiration and opportunity to build your own collection of unique, original artwork.

When registering your wedding or civil partnership, you receive a catalogue of ideas and suggestions from us, which you can also add your own choices to. When you have chosen all the gifts you hope for, we will complete your registration by adding you and your partner-to-be to our website – with a web-page of your very own. This will include photographs, dimensions and prices of all the items you choose, with a secure, online purchasing function. Your friends and family will be able to browse the pages of your gift list before deciding on their purchase.

Friends and family can even combine their finances to purchase a larger item such as a painting, which can be reserved for your list by paying a deposit of 20%.

Create you own unique wedding gift list today here at Artery Gallery.

www.arteryuk.com

Buying Handmade Jewellery at Artery Gallery

Handmade jewellery has never been as popular as it is now. We all have our reasons for buying handmade, rather than mass produced jewellery – we want to be seen to be supporting our local producers during a precarious financial situation, or we want to be seen as part of the cool ‘eco-chic’ bunch that we see in magazines, we like to be different and unique in our style, or maybe we just love to follow fashion.

All of these reasons to buy handmade jewellery are explained and discussed in so many women’s glossy magazines just now. We want to look unique, and feel morally satisfied with our purchases, we want to stay ahead of fashion (instead of just keeping up!). Here at Artery, we understand that all of these reasons are important, and we have handmade jewellery to suit every reason behind a purchase.

You want to be at the forefront of fashion…..

So, your buying handmade jewellery because you want to be seen in what’s on the catwalk, rather than what’s in the shops. This is every trend-setter’s hurdle – what we see in magazines and fashion shows, is not yet in the shops – so where do we find it? Handmade jewellery often takes inspiration from international fashions shows, in terms of colour and theme. Jewellery designers are always looking for a direction in which to take their inspiration, and the catwalks give them that. As handmade jewellery is relatively quickly produced (because you’re not making 5000 of the same item) the hottest styles are ready for the public much quicker than mass produced jewellery. Also – why bother chasing fashion, if you’re going to end up wearing something that every third person on the high street is wearing?

Our jeweller designer Angela Learoyd has her finger on the pulse when it comes to trend setting (rather than following!).

Her handmade African Jasper and silver concertina necklace @ £130 is totally unique – and taking the catwalk ‘tribal’ trend to another level. The beautiful green/blue hue of this stone is a key element of the tribal look – seen in African inspired fashion, and ‘Navajo’ themed jewellery. The difference is that with this, you know you have something that nobody else has, as it’s made from natural products, each is unique and can never be reproduced, and because of the quality of materials, although it’s a fashion forward item just now, you know it will become a much loved classic item over the years.


You have your own style…..

So you are the opposite of the dedicated follower of fashion! You have your own style, and you love it. Buy what if your own style is not what’s in the shops just now? Then buy it handmade! This way you can find a jewellery designer who matches your style and commission a piece to your own specifications, or purchase a piece of theirs ‘off the peg’.

Chunky, bold jewellery is in fashion just now, but what if you like something delicate and feminine? One of our designers, Angel Neal, specialises in feminine, pretty, delicate jewellery, so while the high street is awash with chunky wooden beads, you can stand out from the crowd in one of Angel’s delicate crystal bracelets, or pretty pearl necklaces. Or design your own feminine crystal necklace for Angel to make for you.


You want to feel morally satisfied with your purchase….

This is something that just a few years ago didn’t concern, or occur to us. Today’s media has made us painfully aware that our purchase-power has a dramatic effect on the global economy, and it raises all sorts of questions – do we want to be responsible for child labour in Asia, or do we want feel guilty about oppressive diamond mining methods every time we look at our engagement ring?

Fortunately, as we have become aware of this, so have our jewellery designers – and they now strive to provide us with beautiful handmade jewellery, which hasn’t compromised anybody’s integrity or ethics to source and produce it. Our silver designer Patricia Gurgel-Segrillo, based in Brazil, uses only ethically sourced silver, and other materials that support, not degrade her community and country. Patricia’s silver designs are made from Fine silver rather than sterling silver, which has a higher silver content, and lends itself well to her unique, woven designs.


You want to support your local economy……

You want to buy handmade jewellery to support your local economy, rather than the huge ubiquitous mega-stores of the UK.

If you buy a piece of handmade jewellery you could be supporting a small local business by doing this, and in turn, supporting a local designer. Many of our jewellery designers at Artery are from fife and we love to be able to support handmade goods from our own area. There is never any point in complaining that our high streets have become one in the same, and bland, then popping into a chain store to buy something that is made in the thousands.

We have local designer Elizabeth Scott, whose hometown is not ten miles from the gallery. Much of her jewellery is inspired by her local countryside and sea views, using colours in her jewellery to represent that.

So you can see that whatever your reason is for buying handmade jewellery – you will find something to suit you at Artery Gallery.

www.arteryuk.com

New Scottish Jewellery Designer Exhibiting at St Andrews

Joanne Timoney is a full time desginer-jeweller, working from her studio in Glasgow. Trained at Glasgow School of Art with a background in Retail jewellery, her work is unusual, but still wearable every day.

Her unique designs use precious metals, acrylics and resin, blended together to create quirky and modern jewellery for all ages and occassions.

As every item is handmade, no two are the same and all designs can be modified to suit the wearers tastes.

www.arteryuk.com

Handmade Silver Jewellery

(Christine Forsyth - Silver Cuff Bangle)

Most of the jewellery you'll find on the high street has been mass produced, but at Artery Gallery, all the jewellers exhibiting design and create their own jewellery by hand.

Using pure Silver together with Semi-precious stones, pearls or Swarovski crystals, sourced from all over the world, the top quality artists you find at Artery Gallery create truly unique pieces of beautifully handcrafted jewellery.

Buying handmade jewellery means that you have a unique or limited edition item, not to be seen on anyone else. Choose the jewellery you like and make a statement that reflects your personality and style!

We have Scottish artists such as Christine Forsyth creating wonderfully designed contemporary silver jewellery and Angela Learoyd using a vast array of unique stones and beads. Together with Angel Neal, famed for her wedding jewellery and often featured in many high class magazines.

Jewellers from across the UK can also be found at Artery Gallery, with the lampworking style of Rachel Dawes. Lampworking is the process of making glass beads using rods of different coloured glass and an extremely hot specialist torch. Decorations on the individual beads can be added with different coloured glass to create elaborate and complex designs.

Birmingham based Lora Leedham’s jewellery has a very feminine, fresh and romantic style to it and the designs portray an emphasis on texture. Inspiration is taken from a hobby of photographing nature and looking at its textures and forms. The jewellery, as featured in magazines, has also made TV appearances, one of which was worn by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

One of Artery Gallery’s more renowned jewellers is Brazilian Patricia Gurgel-Segrillo. Following on from continued success exhibiting with Artery Gallery, her hand woven silver and gold jewellery has hit the spotlight in recent times thanks to one of her more famous collectors, British actor Orlando Bloom wearing her woven bands in publicity shots. Subsequently, links with the Orlando Bloom Files website have been set up exclusively with www.arteryuk.com to help promote her highly stylish jewellery, with Artery Gallery acting as distributors to Scotland for her work.

Buying and wearing handcrafted jewellery is a personal and special experience. All our jewellers are specifically chosen because of their innovative design, their high quality and real value for money.

Whether you are looking for earrings, necklaces or rings, with the jewellers we have assembled at Artery Gallery, we are sure that you will find the ideal romantic gift or a truly inspirational jewellery piece to enhance your image.

www.arteryuk.com

Christmas Shopping Ideas - Art Gifts

Artery Gallery is a Four Star Arts Venue attraction with VisitScotland and has become a leader amongst Scottish contemporary art galleries.

Here at Artery Gallery we have gathered a wonderfully eclectic range of contemporary art and handmade craft from local, national and international artists.

With galleries in both St Andrews and Crieff, as well as an extensive and secure website, buying original art has never been more accessible and affordable.

Our range of paintings, sculpture, jewellery and useful art has never been stronger. All original, everything unique!

Paintings by popular abstract artist Derek Collins with his 'Flaming Art' and the stunning work by the renowned painter Steve Johnston.

Sculpure from Ronna Elliott, Frank Wilson and Tom Payne

Stunning handmade silver jewellery from Brazil by Patricia Gurgel-Segrillo and from a little closer to home in Scotland, contemporary silver jewellery by Christine Forsyth

The ever popular handmade steel clocks from Tim Fowler and Whittle Design

Beautiful vases by Daniel Kavanagh and useful sculpture and clocks by John McPhail

Click on the links provided to view these selected works or visit our main page at www.arteryuk.com where you can navigate around the Artery Gallery website and shop for your unique Christmas art gifts with confidence.

Or you can visit either of our galleries at;

43 South Street, St Andrews (01334 478221)

and

22 King Street, Crieff (01764 655722)

Prince's Trust Enterprise Award 2008

Here at Artery Gallery, we wish to congratulate Lora Leedham, one of our extremely talented jewellery designers, in winning the Prince's Trust Enterprise Award 2008 for the West Midlands.

(Lora Leedham accepting her award)

The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards West Midlands honoured the achievements of disadvantaged young people supported by The Trust who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.

The award ceremony took place at the Birmingham ICC and was hosted by ITV Central presenter Joanne Malin. All the finalists were selected from the 3,800 young people supported by The Trust in the West Midlands over the past year.

Birmingham based jeweller Lora Leedham had a tough start in life, growing up in an area where underachieving at school and lack of opportunities were the norm. But Lora went in search of something more and was determined to make something of herself against such difficulties.

She took a huge gamble by starting up her own jewellery company with the help of The Prince’s Trust. The gamble paid off and her business is now booming with nearly forty stockists across the UK and Europe, including both branches of Artery Gallery.

Lora has been selling her work succesfully here at Artery Gallery for the last two years, with her Venitian Glass Heart Pendants in particular proving a massive hit with our customers.

Well done Lora and may your success continue.


www.arteryuk.com

Bridal Jewellery at Artery Gallery

Artery Gallery has expanded its handmade jewellery collection to include a range of high quality, unique bridal accessories.

Scottish Jeweller Angel Neal specialises in Bridal jewellery, designing and making everything from necklaces and earrings, to tiaras and hair fascinators. Her bridal jewellery designs come in silver, gold, pearl and crystal styles. Her extensive range means there is something to suit every bride, and to match every wedding dress!

Angel started making jewellery at the age of fourteen, following that with her first business creating luxury bridal jewellery, eventually leading her to the position of finalist in the 2007-2008 FMG International jewellery Design Competition in the category of natural pearls. Artery Gallery now stocks a vast range of Angel’s pearl and bridal jewellery, with different designs of tiaras, necklaces, bracelets earrings and hair adornments all available to try on in the gallery. Angel also undertakes bridal consultations and individual commissions.

Lara Baxter specialises in bespoke 18 carat gold and silver wedding jewellery. Her range of designs includes made-to-order kilt pins, necklaces, tiaras and rings. In fact, she designed and made the jewellery for her own wedding in 2007, making her own solid gold and silver tiara, her new husband’s kilt pin, and her bridesmaids jewellery. The simple, organic designs of her pieces are influenced by her surroundings on the west coast of Scotland where she grew up. Lara learned her trade from her mother, a successful jeweller herself, before setting up her own workshop. Lara can undertake commissions to co-ordinate your whole bridal party.

Matching your jewellery to your bridal gown can be difficult, but jeweller Angela Learoyd designs pearl jewellery in rainbow colours to suit all shades of dresses and skin-tones. With beautiful natural pale pinks to baby blues, and gold colours, Angela’s pearls can be used for traditional brides, bridesmaids, or more unusually coloured bridal dresses. Angela is a member of the British Jewellers Association, The Association of Contemporary Jewellers and Visual Arts Scotland.

Check online at Artery Gallery to view the different styles and ranges from our exhibiting jewellers.

Buying Handmade Over The Mass Produced

The rapid rise of the large chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us furnishing and dressing alike. It’s almost like the consumer is being told what to buy because the shelves are full with goods of all the same design and colour as the next shop. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost.

Mass production has always been with us, generally speaking as a way of ensuring quality. But this has not always been the case. Taking printing as an example, the earliest printers initially showed perfectionist tendencies, probably because the hand operated press machine and letter stamps were all created by hand to do the job. In the late sixteenth century, printing began to turn into an industry. It was largely considered at the time that these industrial printing practices should never allow commercial considerations to lower the typographical standard of books and printed documents.

But things inevitably went the other way in the nineteenth century after the invention of the steam press. The necessity to produce cheaper books and newspapers meant that standards fell, and mass production began to gain its poor reputation. It was during the nineteenth century that artist and writer William Morris began to worry that mechanised production was taking away opportunities for individual creativity, and to almost dehumanise people's working and social lives. Morris planned to counter these apparent problems with a revival of handicrafts. Numerous craft based associations, guilds and communities were founded, and the idea of something being hand made all of a sudden became rather fashionable. The customers for these hand made products were of course the better off for this change.

A memorial to what became known as the ‘Arts and Crafts Movement’ is now preserved at Standen in Sussex, a grand house decorated by William Morris himself.

It is often considered that buying a handmade gift involves that little bit more consideration and thought. You buy into something that is a unique, one off creation, and in today’s world that is still consumed by mass produced goods, it makes it all the more satisfying.

A handmade craft, whether it’s in the form of a painting, clock, pottery or jewellery, will be chosen for its pure individuality and will instantly reflect the personality of the purchaser.

If it has been purchased for the purpose of a gift, the buyer may well feel the satisfaction of supporting an artist or craftsperson as well as being confident of giving something of quality and uniqueness. Likewise, the recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is clearly absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

If you are looking to buy, whether for yourself or someone else, buying handmade can help us reconnect with ourselves and therefore certainly better for both maker and buyer.

Above: Allan Craig Arts and Craft style copper clocks, mirrors and sconces
Top of post: Kerry Whittle, John McPhail and Tim Fowler

www.arteryuk.com

Unique Handmade Jewellery

Most of the jewellery you'll find on the high street has been mass produced, but at Artery Gallery, all the jewellers exhibiting design and create their own jewellery by hand.

Using pure Silver together with Semi-precious stones, pearls or Swarovski crystals, sourced from all over the world, the top quality artists you find at Artery Gallery create truly unique pieces of beautifully handcrafted contemporary jewellery.

Buying handmade jewellery means that you have a unique or limited edition item, not to be seen on anyone else. Choose the jewellery you like and make a statement that reflects your personality and style!

We have Scottish artists such as Christine Forsyth creating wonderfully designed contemporary silver jewellery and Angela Learoyd using a vast array of unique stones and beads. Together with Angel Neal, famed for her wedding jewellery and often featured in many high class magazines.

Jewellers from across the UK can also be found at Artery Gallery, with the lampworking style of Rachel Dawes. Lampworking is the process of making glass beads using rods of different coloured glass and an extremely hot specialist torch. Decorations on the individual beads can be added with different coloured glass to create elaborate and complex designs.

Birmingham based Lora Leedham’s jewellery has a very feminine, fresh and romantic style to it and the designs portray an emphasis on texture. Inspiration is taken from a hobby of photographing nature and looking at its textures and forms. The jewellery, as featured in magazines, has also made TV appearances, one of which was worn by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

One of Artery Gallery’s more renowned jewellers is Brazilian Patricia Gurgel-Segrillo. Following on from continued success exhibiting with Artery Gallery, her hand woven silver and gold jewellery has hit the spotlight in recent times thanks to one of her more famous collectors, British actor Orlando Bloom wearing her woven bands in publicity shots. Subsequently, links with the Orlando Bloom Files website have been set up exclusively with www.arteryuk.com to help promote her highly stylish jewellery, with Artery Gallery acting as distributors to Scotland for her work.

Buying and wearing handcrafted jewellery is a personal and special experience. All our jewellers are specifically chosen because of their innovative design, their high quality and real value for money.

Whether you are looking for earrings, necklaces or rings, with the jewellers we have assembled at Artery Gallery, we are sure that you will find the ideal romantic gift or a truly inspirational jewellery piece to enhance your image.

http://www.arteryuk.com/