Christina Jansen visits Malcolm Appleby
Visiting Malcolm Appleby and his wife Philippa Swann in January has become a lovely, annual event to bring in the New Year. After the rush of the festive season, their home and studio is a welcome break from the gallery. Once leaving the A9 to Grandtully, I’m in Appleby country – where they live is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland and I cannot disassociate Perthshire from Malcolm’s work.
Malcolm and Philippa designed the house, which is both wonderfully eccentric and practical. Visiting the studio is an important reminder of a truly authentic talent – there is always new work on the go. Malcolm shows me some of latest projects and I am allowed to sift and sort through the treasure of jewellery and metalwork where I usually discover a new facet of his work that I hadn’t appreciated before or I spy new work and trends. It is a humbling experience – Malcolm has an infectious enthusiasm and loves what he does. He also enjoys working with others and generously tells me what other artists I should be looking at. It is always a salutary reminder that the gallery must always reflect the joy and love that goes into truly original ideas and craftsmanship.
These 22ct engraved earrings are exquisitely engraved with one of Malcolm’s specially adapted engraving tools. The spirals and finely drawn, deep cut engraving which amplifies the colour of the gold and catches the light giving a three dimensional quality when worn. World class!
Malcolm enjoys working with precious and semi precious stones. This beautifully engraved ring features a rare star sapphire and has been set to allow light to pass through the base so that the colour of the stone can be appreciated.
Malcolm’s walking in the woods series are inspired by the trees, shrubs and woodland area directly around his house, grounds and surrounding countryside.
Malcolm enjoys making accessible, original work which everyone can behold, wear and enjoy. He has made numerous designs for buttons over the years and this group of pendant buttons feature some of his beautiful bird designs, woodland flowers and linden leaves and hearts.
Malcolm and Philippa enjoy watching the red squirrels come and go in their garden and have become a favourite motif. This squirrel pendant is 18ct red gold on a soft amethyst chain.
Please visit our website here to view the new jewellery by Malcolm Appleby.
