Stuart Cairns
Stuart Cairns works as a silversmith in County Down, Northern Ireland who combines natural materials and found objects alongside precious metals to create artefacts in the tradition of tableware.
After previously completing a degree in Economics and working as a landscape gardener Stuart returned to college to study silversmithing and Jewellery in the University of Ulster, graduating in 2000 with a first class Honours degree. On leaving, he won the BT Millennium Award of Art and Design and the RUA President's Prize and went on to set up his workshop.
In 2004 he returned to college completing his Masters degree in 2006, winning the Association of British Designer Silversmith’s award for new work in silver at the New Designers fair in London.
"My practice is concerned with the exploration of materials through the objects of the everyday, specifically those around the familiar investigate their narrative possibilities using a variety of materials, processes and found objects. Setting this play between materiality and form in the everyday experience I seek to touch upon the viewer’s sense of the familiar and divert it into an alternative narrative and association".
His work has been purchased by the University of Ulster as well as a number of private collectors.
Professional Experience
2011 The Linen Diaspora 4th Biennale Internationale du Lin de Portneuf at Chevrotère Mill, Quebec
2009 ‘Side X Side- Edge to Edge’, Contemporary British Silversmiths, Hämeenlinna, Finland
2011 The Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro, England
2010 The Capstone, Liverpool Hope University
2009 ‘Coming Back’: solo exhibition, Spacecraft, Belfast
2007 ‘The Vessel Series and a Setting’: solo exhibition, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn
2007 ‘Double Elephant’: Selected work from Northern Ireland’s Print Workshops, Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast
2007 ‘An Tuireann’: solo exhibition, Ilse of Skye
2007 Ignition: new work, Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast
2007 ‘Ten’ touring exhibition, Birmingham Museum and the Ebury Gallery, London
2011 Ulster Museum’s permanent collection
2006 University of Ulster permanent collection
2006 Prize for New Work in Silver, Association of British Designer Silversmiths
2005/06 Dean’s Prize, Faculty of Arts, University of Ulster
2004 Arts Council of Northern Ireland General Arts Award
2000 The Presidents Award, Royal Ulster Academy
Contact Details
111 Ogilvie St
Belfast
BT6 8NH
