Alison Macleod Jewellery

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Alison Macleod Jewellery

Silver and gold handmade jewellery inspired by vintage and antique finds

10/07/2026

Looking ahead to a busy summer at the workbench…
I’m delighted to be returning to Goldsmiths' Fair - fine jewellery & contemporary silver this September. It’s always a privilege to exhibit in the beautiful surroundings of Goldsmiths’ Hall, and I’m looking forward to sharing a new collection of work beneath those glittering chandeliers once again.
I’ll be exhibiting in Week One, from 22–27 September, alongside an inspiring group of makers. If you’re planning a visit, I’d love to see you there.
Now, it’s back to the bench…

01/07/2026

This week I travelled home from Highland Perthshire after my seventh and final day of engraving tuition with
Over the past few months I’ve made the journey north every fortnight, spending time learning new skills before returning to my own atelier to practise, experiment and slowly absorb what I’d learned. I’ve loved being a student again. Challenging myself, asking questions, getting things wrong and gradually beginning to understand a completely new way of working.
One of the unexpected joys of these visits has been watching spring unfold at Aultbeag. Each journey brought something new; bare branches giving way to fresh leaves, the hedgerows growing denser and Malcolm’s wonderfully abundant garden changing week by week. It became as much a source of inspiration as the workshop itself.
As I’ve spent time looking closely at leaves, grasses and the layered rhythms of the landscape, I’ve found myself thinking differently about pattern. Ideas are beginning to emerge that I can’t wait to explore further in my own work.
I’ve written more about my time with Malcolm in my latest Journal, including what I’ve learned, the idea behind my final “masterpiece”, and how I hope these new skills will become woven into my practice. You’ll find the link in my bio.
This opportunity has only been possible thanks to a Business Catalyst (Large) Grant from the The Goldsmiths' Centre funded by the . I’m incredibly grateful for their support and commitment to preserving and developing hand-making skills for future generations.
Now it’s time to begin the final piece.

31/05/2026

Lately, inside and outside the atelier.
Recent bespoke pieces made for customers, each one carrying its own story, alongside the colours of the countryside around the atelier this season.
The hedgerows are so vibrant just now — rich greens, wild flowers, deep shadows and bright bursts of colour. I’ve noticed those same saturated tones appearing on my bench too, in gemstones, gold and tiny personalised details.
Each piece marks a moment or milestone in its own way. An honour, always, to make jewellery that holds those stories.

23/05/2026

The first day of Open Studios is complete and what a beautiful day it has been. Sunshine pouring into the atelier, wonderful conversations, and a steady stream of visitors all day long.
It’s been such a joy to have my friend exhibiting here with me again this year, filling the space with her beautiful resin jewellery alongside my own work. Thank you so much to everyone who came through the door today, took the time to look closely, ask thoughtful questions, and share stories. I’m always so struck by the incredibly informed and engaged audience that Spring Fling brings with it each year.
We rounded it all off this evening with a little celebratory cocktail before doing it all again tomorrow.

14/05/2026

As I pack my tools tonight and prepare to drive north to Aberfeldy for my next session with tomorrow, I’ve been reflecting on just how much this period of learning is beginning to shape me.
Over the past weeks I have been practising endlessly between sessions, moving between Malcolm’s remarkable workshop in Highland Perthshire and my own atelier back home. Straight lines, curved lines, hammer and chisel engraving. Tiny movements repeated over and over again until they slowly begin to settle into muscle memory.
It has been humbling at times, starting from scratch with a new skill after more than twenty years at the jewellery bench. There are moments where the graver seems to have a mind of its own and I feel completely out of control, then suddenly something clicks and a line catches the light exactly as you hoped it would.
What I’m enjoying most is allowing the process to lead without forcing an outcome. The quiet repetition of practice leaves space for ideas to wander in unexpectedly.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be undertaking this training thanks to a Large Catalyst Grant from the , funded by the .
I’ve written more about the experience, Malcolm’s workshop, and this season of learning over on my journal if you’d like to read further.

08/05/2026

I’ll be opening the atelier once again for Open Studios from 23rd–25th May here in Dumfries and Galloway.

Visitors will be able to explore my latest collections, try pieces on, and get a closer insight into how my jewellery comes to life at the bench. I’ll also have some of my engraving works in progress on display following my recent training with .

I’m very glad to be joined again by and her vibrant jewellery collections, while will be exhibiting with us at .

Spring Fling is always a lovely opportunity to step inside working spaces, meet makers, and experience the atmosphere of open studios across Dumfries and Galloway.

28/04/2026

Light and dark, always shifting.
The Interlace Necklace comes to life in movement. Faceted green sapphires catch the sunlight with a quiet sparkle, while each patterned crescent bead casts its own soft shadow. In dappled shade, the necklace becomes something else entirely — a gentle rhythm of light and form, constantly changing as it moves.
A piece shaped by interwoven forms, where strength lies in fine threads and quiet connections.

19/04/2026

There is something very special about giving new life to pieces that already hold meaning.
This bespoke gold ring began with a collection of unworn rings, each carrying its own history. My customer brought them into the atelier, and together we spent time trying on pieces from the collection to find a direction that felt right. She was drawn to a cluster ring set with an icy blue sapphire, so I sourced a stone that would sit beautifully alongside her own diamonds.
From there, I created a photoshop mock-up to gently bring the idea to life, allowing her to see how her diamonds and gold could become something new. Once everything felt right, I moved to the bench and began the process of transforming old into new.
Now, her ring sits comfortably among the others she wears every day. It feels settled, familiar, as though it has always belonged there.
If you have unworn jewellery tucked away, you are very welcome to bring it in. We can take our time and explore what it might become.

12/04/2026

Life has felt very full lately, and I’ve drifted a little out of the rhythm of sharing here.
Over the past few months there have been such thoughtful commissions. Engagement rings, pieces to mark milestones, and jewellery rooted in family stories. It’s always a privilege to be trusted with moments like these.
I’m so grateful to my customers for the meaningful, creative work I’m invited into. Each piece carries something of you with it, and that never feels ordinary.

04/04/2026

Sometimes there are pieces that carry more than their weight in gold.
I created this necklace from a collection of rings, once worn every day by someone deeply loved and now greatly missed. Each one carefully deconstructed, their gold and diamonds reimagined into three, tactile charms — holding traces of a life, a presence, a story.
Together, they form something new, yet entirely rooted in the past. Memories, distilled into form.
Designed to be worn every day, close to the heart, the gentle movement of each charm offer something to hold, to return to — a quiet source of comfort for busy hands and wandering thoughts.
A piece for now, and for all the moments that came before.

Address

Old School Thornhill Studio 4
Thornhill
DG35DF

Telephone

+447786434981

Website

http://www.alisonmacleod.com/

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