Scottish maker Iona Hall focuses on box-making and textural work in silver, drawn to the textures and irregular patterns found on the beaches near her home in Scotland. Lines, movement and irregularity are important factors in her work, present in her research where she collects objects from beaches and studies them, reflecting their forms in her finished pieces. Iona uses chasing and repoussé to transfer her drawings and designs onto silver, scoring and folding to fabricate the shape. Her passion for box-making draws from the aspect of discovery such objects hold. A box is an object that can fit in the palm of your hand, but once opened can reveal a sentiment of treasure. We are delighted to welcome Iona for her Elements debut, and bring you behind-the-scenes for a more in-depth look into her work and process of making.

Art was always a focus for Iona growing up, encouraged by her artist mother who indulged her creativity. Iona studied Jewellery and Silversmithing in Glasgow for six years, graduating from The Glasgow School of Art with a BA (Hons) degree. She continued with another year of study focusing more on silversmithing at Bishopsland Educational Trust, where her style grew, and her skills and knowledge of the craft deepened. Throughout this year of developing her practice, Iona gained the confidence to set up on her own as a self-employed craft silversmith and jeweller.

How does your process of making begin?

I draw studies in my sketchbook, mostly line drawings, and take photos of potential inspiring textures and patterns on the beach. I make paper maquettes to work out the shape and size of the piece first, and then draw my designs onto the paper deciding what pattern works with the shape. I may make a copper sample to trial chasing tools and textures, and this can happen throughout the making process as I formulate the best way to express to my designs.

What inspires your work?

I am drawn to textures and irregular patterns in natural forms from the beaches in Scotland. I’m inspired by the lines and movement and irregularity which is present in my research. Sporadic placements on barnacles, the tide retreating from the beach leaving clusters of seaweed clinging to the rocks, markings in the rocks, the natural placement of clusters of stones. I love collecting objects from the beach and studying them, isolating an element from the object and adding it to the objects I make.

What drew you to focus on box-making?

Many of the boxes I make can fit in the palm of your hand, and the appeal for me is to achieve that compelling feeling that you must pick this object up to connect with the piece. These pieces are made to hold, to use and to look at from many angles as the design has been considered for both exterior and interior of the boxes. Once opened they can reveal a sentiment of discovering treasure. In all my work I strive to create a keepsake that demands further exploration.

Is there a specific technique at the core of your practice?

Scoring and folding is a technique I use most in my practice, along with chasing and repoussé. I score down the silver with a scoring tool I have made to generate the correct angle for the design, repeatedly scoring down a line until the metal is thin enough to fold and create a 3D shape. Chasing and repoussé are traditional techniques that I use to add lines and patterns onto the piece, either before or after fabricating the shape depending on the piece .Chasing involves manipulating the silver with punches and hammers on the surface of the metal. Repoussé involves working on the underneath side of the metal to produce a design on the front. In this way I realise my design onto the metal.

To learn more about Iona Hall and her work, you can find her at @ionahalljewellery on Instagram and ionahall.com. Iona is one of fifty makers from across the UK taking part in this years’ digital Elements: A Festival of Jewellery, Silver and Gold.

Images and video courtesy of Iona Hall