Séamus Gill
Séamus Gill is recognised as one of Irelands leading silversmiths.
All his work is about the joy of working directly with the material, using a hammer and anvil to transform a flat sheet of silver or bronze using traditional age-old silversmithing skills.
He exploits the working qualities of silver or bronze, stretching and compressing the metal to move it into elegant three dimensional forms. Working in harmony with the natural movement of the metal leads to his work being compared to natural forms.
His work combines the skilful hand of a master craftsman, the eye of a designer and the imagination of an artist.
Education
Séamus Gill started his education at Grennan Mill Craft School in Kilkenny, where he was introduced to the Art of Silversmithing by Peter Donovan, a highly respected Silversmith. He continued his studies at the Regional Technical College, Letterkenny and then at the College of Art in Belfast, finishing his studies at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin.
He gained further experience working with jewellers Deborah Aguado and Talya Baharal in New York and with Kensington Silvers Studios, Virelli's and Anne Barros in Toronto, Canada.
He set up his own studio in Dublin in 1988.
The first bowl made by Seamus Gill in 1981. It was hammered out of a flat sheet of copper while he was a student in Grennan Mill Craft School where he was taught by Peter Donovan. This copper bowl was enamelled on the inside.
Collections
Séamus Gills silversmithing work is in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Ireland, the Company of Goldsmiths, Dublin, the Irish Embassy collection and the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland collection.
His silversmithing work has been presented to King Harald V of Norway, King Albert II of Belgium and Pope Francis.
His work is in numerous private collections nationally and internationally.
Teaching
Séamus is very keen to pass on the skills he has learned and developed over the years and teaches occasionally.
He has taught silversmithing techniques at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin and at the the Crafts Council of Ireland Jewellery skills and design course in Kilkenny.
He has acted as outside assessor for college courses and as a mentor to craft programmes on TV.
He regularly teaches weekend courses on silversmithing skills at the Irish School of Jewellery.
Séamus Gill teaching silversmithing skills to students from the Jewellery skills course in Kilkenny
Exhibitions
Séamus Gill has had three solo exhibitions and taken part in a number of prestigious exhibitions from the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) in New York and SOFA in New York and Chicago. His work has been selected for major international exhibitions such as the Silver Triennial and he was selected as one of the Ten Masters for British Silver Week.
Solo Exhibitions
2008 “The Jewellery Launch” Designyard Gallery, Dublin
2006 “25 years On!” Designyard Gallery, Dublin
2000 “Silversmithing, an ancient craft for the new millennium” Whichcraft Gallery, Dublin
Two Man Exhibitions
2014 “Bronze” Hamilton Gallery, Sligo,
(with Alan Ardiff)
2011 “Jewellery and Bronze Sculptural work” DesignYard, Dublin
(with sculptor Liam Butler)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018 “Gifted” National Craft Fair, RDS, Dublin
“Sculpture in Context” Botanic Gardens, Dublin
“The Makers hand” RDS, Dublin
2017 “Gifted” National Craft Fair, RDS, Dublin
“Sculpture in Context” Botanic Gardens, Dublin
Jewellery Ireland, Citywest
2016 National Craft Fair, RDS, Dublin
Antiques Fair, RDS, Dublin
“Sculpture in Context” Botanic Gardens, Dublin Selector
RDS "National Craft Competition", RDS Dublin, Museum of Country Life,
“HammerClub” The Gallery of Art, Legnica, Poland
Sculpture Garden, Bloom, Dublin
"Showcase", RDS, Dublin
2015 National Craft Fair, RDS, Dublin
“Art Source” RDS, Dublin
“Portfolio Finale Exhibition”, Solomon Gallery, Dublin
“Portfolio Metals and Stone” Solomon Gallery, Dublin
“Portfolio Jewellery” Solomon Gallery, Dublin
“Sculpture in Context” Botanic Gardens, Dublin
"RDS National Craft Competition", RDS Dublin,
Sculpture Garden, Bloom, Dublin
"Showcase", RDS, Dublin
2014 National Craft Fair, RDS, Dublin
“Art Source” RDS, Dublin
“Sculpture in Context” Botanic Gardens, Dublin
Sculpture Garden, Bloom, Dublin
"Showcase", RDS, Dublin
2013 National Craft Fair, RDS, Dublin
“Art Source”, RDS, Dublin
“Waterland” Waterways Ireland Visitors Centre, Dublin
“Sculpture in Context” Botanic Gardens, Dublin
“Summer Exhibition”, Millcove Gallery, Cork
“Core Revelations” Designworks, Cork
2012 National Craft Fair, RDS Dublin
"Art Source” with DesignYard, RDS, Dublin
“Living with Design” Design week, Malthouse, Dublin
“Sculpture in Context” Botanic Gardens, Dublin
RDS National Craft Competition
Winner Crafts Council of Ireland Purchase Prize
Inhorgenta, Germany
2011 National Craft Fair, RDS Dublin
“Portfolio” RHA, Dublin
“The Art Fair” RDS Dublin
“Showcase” Gorey Market House, Co. Wexford
“Sculpture in context”, Botanic Gardens, Dublin
“Adornment”
European house, Dublin
The Dock house, Leitrim
Designworks Studio, Cork
“Portfolio”, Farmleigh, Dublin
British Silver Week
Launch, Pangolin Gallery London
“Ten Masters of British Silver” Pangolin Gallery London
Payne & Sons, Tumbridge Wells, Kent
Interior and Design Fair, RDS, Dublin
“Portfolio” National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
2010 “Friends of Christmas Art Fair” IMMA
“Portfolio” Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin
“Sculpture in Context” Botanic Gardens
British Silver Week,
Pangolin Gallery, London
Hamilton and Inches, London and Edinburgh
Payne and Sons, Oxford
“Portfolio” National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
The British Antique Dealers Association Fair, London, with Payne and Son
2009 “Design Collection- winter”, Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow
“Wunderkammer” Design Week, Dublin
“Sculpture in Context”, Botanic Gardens, Dublin
RDS National Craft Competition
Winner of 1st prize Ironwork and Metalwork
“Sculpture at the Hallward”, Hallward Gallery, Dublin
British Silver Week,
Goldsmiths Hall, London
Hamilton and Inches, London and Edinburgh
Payne and Sons, Oxford
2008 “Celebrate with Art” Gallery 13. West Hollywood, L.A. CA USA
“Design Collection- winter”, Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow
“Treasures of Today” National Museum of Ireland, Dublin
SOFA, with the Crafts Council of Ireland, Chicago
“Images of Longing”, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny Arts Week
British Silver Week,
Goldsmiths Hall, London
Justin Richardson, Canterbury
Trevor Towner, Hampshire
2007 “15th Silvertriennial”, travelling Europe 2007/8
10 venues in Germany, Moscow, Denmark, Netherlands
RDS National Craft Exhibition
“Embrace” Dublin Design week and Birmingham College of Art
“Sculpture in Context”, Botanic Gardens, Dublin
2006 SOFA, with Gallerie Tactus, New York
RDS National Craft competition
“Sculpture in Context”, Botanic Gardens, Dublin
SOFA, with Crafts Council of Ireland, Chicago
2005 “Loot” Bluecoat Gallery Liverpool & The Atrium Gallery, Dublin
"Art Ireland” RDS with DesignYard, Dublin
“Review”, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
SOFA, with Gallerie Tactus New York
“Common Ground”, Grennan Mill Craft School, Kilkenny Arts Week
“Sculpture in Context”, Botanic Gardens, Dublin
SOFA, with Gallerie Tactus, Chicago
“Collectors Event”, Hunt Museum, Limerick
2004 “Loot” Museum of Art and Design, New York
“Sculpture in Context”, Botanic Gardens and Farmleigh, Dublin
“Looking over my Shoulder” Lesley Craze Gallery,
20th Anniversary Exhibition, London
"Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show"
Winner Rolex prize for Excellence in Metals
2003 “The Cream of Irish” The Roger Billcliff Gallery, Glasgow
“Sculpture in Context”, Botanic Gardens Dublin.
2002 “The Discerning Eye”, The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
RDS National Craft Exhibition
International Jewellery, London
“A road less travelled” The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
2001 Christmas Exhibitions;
Whichcraft Gallery, Dublin,
Leslie Craze Gallery, London
Roger Billcliff Gallery, Glasgow,
The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
“Metalwork’s” West Cork Exhibition Centre, Cork
“Metal in the city” Design Concourse, Galway
JCL, Las Vegas, USA
International Jewellery London
“Spoons big and small” Leslie Craze Gallery, London