Linda Connelly

Linda Connelly is an award winning enamel artist who is inspired by stories and memories. She began enamelling over thirty years ago when she was given an old enamelling kiln as a present. She had always experimented with a range of different media and art forms and there was something about the combination of glass and colour that seduced her and enamelling has now become a major part of her life. She loves to create unique and colourful pieces of enamel art with a narrative, bringing memories to life in jewellery, bowls and small panels. We are all made up of stories and remembered moments in time. Reminding ourselves of special moments can help to enrich our lives. Linda particularly enjoys working on silver and combines the traditional skills of hand engraving, cloisonne and champlevé to create colourful, richly detailed pieces which are beautifully made and finely finished. Inspiration comes from tales of myths and legends, vibrant colours and architecture that she has seen during travels to India, Venice and Sicily, and also many holidays by the sea in Cornwall and on the Jurassic coast. In recent years she has entered the prestigious Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards and has been privileged to win silver and bronze awards in the Enamelling category.
Blending and shading different Enamels to build up veils of colour in order to convey mood and feeling never fails to provoke a sense of excitement and anticipation, as no two pieces are ever identical. Each piece evolves over a succession of firings, typically around 10 although each one only lasts a minute or two. Linda welcomes commissions and will be delighted to discuss with you the designing and making of a special piece, maybe one that tells a story that is important to you.
Blending and shading different Enamels to build up veils of colour in order to convey mood and feeling never fails to provoke a sense of excitement and anticipation, as no two pieces are ever identical. Each piece evolves over a succession of firings, typically around 10 although each one only lasts a minute or two. Linda welcomes commissions and will be delighted to discuss with you the designing and making of a special piece, maybe one that tells a story that is important to you.
Exhibitions and Shows
I exhibit and sell my work with the Sussex Guild and take part in many of their shows. I have also exhibited extensively with the Guild of Enamellers and British Society of Enamellers for the past twenty five years. Here are a few of my most recent events.
Heart of the Heat, British Society of Enamellers: School of Jewellery, Birmingham November – December 2013
Enamoured, British Society of Enamellers: Goldsmiths Centre October – November 2016; Assay Office, Birmingham November to February 2017; Academy of Makers, Freemans, Sheffield February – March 2017; Mid Wales Arts Centre March – April 2017.
Goldsmiths’ Awards Exhibition 2020: Birmingham Assay Office
Six Sussex Artists, Selmeston, Sussex October 2021
ACJ Meanings and Messages; Touring Exhibition April 2022 – June 2023
Goldsmiths’ Awards Exhibition 2022, Birmingham School of Jewellery
Goldsmiths’ Awards Exhibition 2023, Goldsmiths’ Centre, London
FORGE Kaleidoscope Showcase, London September 2023
Galeri Caernarfon, British Society of Enamellers September – October 2023
FORGE Anniversary Showcase, London January – February 2024
I exhibit and sell my work with the Sussex Guild and take part in many of their shows. I have also exhibited extensively with the Guild of Enamellers and British Society of Enamellers for the past twenty five years. Here are a few of my most recent events.
Heart of the Heat, British Society of Enamellers: School of Jewellery, Birmingham November – December 2013
Enamoured, British Society of Enamellers: Goldsmiths Centre October – November 2016; Assay Office, Birmingham November to February 2017; Academy of Makers, Freemans, Sheffield February – March 2017; Mid Wales Arts Centre March – April 2017.
Goldsmiths’ Awards Exhibition 2020: Birmingham Assay Office
Six Sussex Artists, Selmeston, Sussex October 2021
ACJ Meanings and Messages; Touring Exhibition April 2022 – June 2023
Goldsmiths’ Awards Exhibition 2022, Birmingham School of Jewellery
Goldsmiths’ Awards Exhibition 2023, Goldsmiths’ Centre, London
FORGE Kaleidoscope Showcase, London September 2023
Galeri Caernarfon, British Society of Enamellers September – October 2023
FORGE Anniversary Showcase, London January – February 2024
Education
I have been enamelling for nearly 40 years. I began by teaching myself from books and later attended workshops run by the Guild of Enamellers. I attended jewellery Adult Education classes, firstly evenings at Croydon and later I studied under Louise O’Neill at SCOLA, Sutton.
Qualifications
Level 3 in Jewellery Open College Network 2004
Cert. Ed. (PCET) 2006
City and Guilds in Enamelling 2008
Advanced Enamel Techniques in Champleve and Basse-Taille, Goldsmiths Centre March 2019
Mount Making and Gypsy Setting, Goldsmiths Centre, August 2022
Teaching
Jewellery Making and Silverwork, Croydon Adult Education 2004 – 2016
Jewellery Making and Silverwork, own weekly class 2016 – 2020
Enamelling, own weekly class 2004 – 2016
Enamelling classes at FORGE, Leather Lane, EC1. One day classes beginning September 2023 with more planned for 2024.
Various other workshops and classes for British Society of Enamellers, Guild of Enamellers and more recently a talk online for American Enamelist Society.
I have been enamelling for nearly 40 years. I began by teaching myself from books and later attended workshops run by the Guild of Enamellers. I attended jewellery Adult Education classes, firstly evenings at Croydon and later I studied under Louise O’Neill at SCOLA, Sutton.
Qualifications
Level 3 in Jewellery Open College Network 2004
Cert. Ed. (PCET) 2006
City and Guilds in Enamelling 2008
Advanced Enamel Techniques in Champleve and Basse-Taille, Goldsmiths Centre March 2019
Mount Making and Gypsy Setting, Goldsmiths Centre, August 2022
Teaching
Jewellery Making and Silverwork, Croydon Adult Education 2004 – 2016
Jewellery Making and Silverwork, own weekly class 2016 – 2020
Enamelling, own weekly class 2004 – 2016
Enamelling classes at FORGE, Leather Lane, EC1. One day classes beginning September 2023 with more planned for 2024.
Various other workshops and classes for British Society of Enamellers, Guild of Enamellers and more recently a talk online for American Enamelist Society.

In Amongst the Dusky Bluebells

Merking’s Palace Gardens ncklace

All I Want is to be Beside the Sea