Dauvit Alexander
Dauvit trained at the jewellery bench from the age of around 14, starting with award-winning Scottish designer, John Gilchrist in Glasgow. His first degree was a mis-step into Landscape Architecture and he soon returned to jewellery, building a reputation and career as a fine jeweller and, eventually, educator. He has maintained an active jewellery practice since entering education.
His work is held in private collections and the permanent collection of the British Museum.
Areas of Expertise
- Traditional fine-jewellery skills;
- Optical diamond-setting;
- CAD/CAM for jewellery;
- Hand-engraving;
- Medal design and medal making;
- Unconventional materials for jewellery.
Qualifications
- BSc. (Hons) Landscaping University of London
- Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education
- MA Education
Memberships
- British Art Medals Society
- Association for Contemporary Jewellery
Teaching
- Teaching fine-jewellery skills, especially optical diamond-setting
- Teaching CAD/CAM in the context of high-quality jewellery manufacture
Research
- Exploring the interface between hand- and machine-made elements in the jewellery workshop
- jewellery as a tool for social change
- medal design and manufacture
Postgraduate Supervision
- Supervising one PhD candidate exploring the role of Dark Humour in Contemporary Jewellery.
Publications
2008 – Paper: “Electrolytic Etching”, SNAG Technical Bulletin, 2nd Quarter
2009 –“1000 Ideas for Creative Re–Use”, ISBN: 978–15925354082010 2010 –“500 Gemstone Jewels”, Lark Books, ISBN: 978–1600593413
2010 –“Found Object Jewellery”, Stackpole Books, ISBN: 978–0811706028
2011 – New Rings: 500 Designs From Around The World”, Thames & Hudson, ISBN: 978–0500289334
2011 – "Contemporary Jewellery Yearbook", Promapress, Barcelona
2011 – "Serendipity Magazine" issue 3, "Apocalyptic Art"
2012 – "Humour In Craft", Brigitte Martin, Schiffer, ISBN: 978–0764340598
2012 – "The Guide To Gemstone Setting", Anastasia Young, A&C Black,ISBN: 978–1408154991
2012 – "Heat, Color, Set & Fire", Mary Hettmansperger, Lark Books,ISBN: 978–1454700166
2012 –“Art Jewellery Magazine”, ed. Theresa Ablew, May 2012, “Hardware Store Jewelry”
2012 –“Metalsmith” exhibition in print, “Gothic Jewelry – Sinister Pleasures”, curated Valerie Steele, August 2012
2012 –“Jewel Book 12/13, International Annual of Contemporary Jewel Art”, Ed. Campos, Hogg, Dempf & Leclercq, Pub. Stichting Kunstboek, ISBN 978–9058564108
2012 –“Heavy Metal”, feature article in “Scotland On Sunday” magazine, “Spectrum”, Peter Ross, 4th November, 2012
2012 –“Pushing Boundaries”, feature article in “Silver Styles” magazine, Olivia Quiniquini, 8th December, 2012
2013 –“The Art of Soldering for Jewellery Makers: Techniques and Projects", Wing Mun Devenney, Pub. Search Press Ltd., ISBN 978-1844489626
2013 –“Showcase 500 Art Necklaces”, Ed. Ray Hemachandra and Chunghi Choo Kathy Sheldon, Pub. Lark Books, ISBN 978-1454703525
2013 –14 –“Storytelling”– Series of articles over four issues, “Serendipity Magazine”
2013 –“Enough Violence: Artists Speak Out”, Privately published exhibition book, collaboration with photographer, Simon Murphy
2013 - “Men Of Style”, cover and feature article in “Scotland On Sunday”magazine, “Spectrum”, Ruth Walker, 10th November, 2013
2014 - “Supbrooch” - Book accompanying exhibition
2014 - “Behind the Brooch: A Closer Look at Backs, Catches, and Pin Stems”, Pub. Schiffer, ISBN 978-0764345593
2015 –“Patina: 300 Surface Effects for Jewellers & Metalsmiths”, Matt Runfola, Pub. Interweave Press, ISBN 978-1620331392
2016 – “500 New Necklaces”, Nicolas Estrada, Pub. Thames and Hudson
2017 – “Tales from the Toolbox”, Mark Fenn, Pub. Schiffer
2019 – “Join The Car-Crash Set: Jewellery, Violence, Ethics”. Journal of Jewellery Research, 2. ISSN 2516-337X
2022 – Swords into Ploughshares: Knives into Jewels, Ed. Alexander and Norman Cherry, Exhibition catalogue.
2023 – “Exhibition Review: {queer}+{metals}”, Journal of Jewellery Research, 6. ISSN 2516-337X
2026 – “Swords into Ploughshares” co-authored with Norman Cherry, Midlands Art Papers, 9. ISSN 2978-5715
Exhibitions:
1999 – “Self–Defence In The Year 2000” - Connect Gallery, Glasgow
2005 – North Glasgow College Show, Tron Theatre, Glasgow
2009 – ACJ Scotland, Winter Show, WASPS Gallery, Dundee
2010 – Goldsmiths' Hall, Craft and Design Awards, London
2010 – ACJ Show, "Treasure" - London Jewellery Week
2010 – “Re:Collect” - Llantarnam Grange, Cwmbran, Wales
2011 – Landfill Art Project, Pennsylvania, USA
2011 – “Beneath The Skin” - Sheffield Institute of Arts, Sheffield
2011 – “Treasure” - London Jewellery Week
2011 – “The Kiss: Works inspired by The Cure” - Green Lion Gallery, Grand Rapids, USA
2012 – Solo show, Llantanam Grange, Cwmbran, Wales
2012 – Group show as part of North Glasgow College, Halifax, Canada
2012 – “Gothic Jewelry, Sinister Pleasures” - SOFA, Chicago, SNAG Exhibition; curated Valerie Steele
2012 – , “Gothic Jewelry, Sinister Pleasures” - Metals Museum, Tennessee, SNAG Exhibition; curated Valerie Steele
2013 – “Ferrous” - Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco; curated Mike Holmes, Elizabeth Shypert and Brigitte Martin
2013 - “I Am Iron Man” - Solo show, Ayse Jewellery Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
2013 - “Chain” - group show at A CASA Museum of Brazilian Object, São Paulo, Brazil
2013 – “Handmade By Machines” - The Lighthouse, Glasgow, Curated Karen Dicken
2013 - “Earrings Galore” - Heidi Lowe Gallery, Delaware, USA
2013 – “Typography” – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, England; curated Rachael Noone
2013 – “Darkness Descends” – Cursley and Bond Gallery, Folkestone, England
2013-14 “Enough Violence: Artists Speak Out” – Society For Contemporary Crafts, Pittsburgh; curated by Kate Lydon; collaborative work with Simon Murphy, Photographer
2014 - “#supbrooch” - One Wall Gallery; curated by Cortland DeWitt and Sharon Massey
2014 - “Field Of Dreams” - Cursley & Bond Gallery, curated by Nicola Cursley
2014 – “ICONS” exhibition, National Centre for Craft and Design, Curated by Jack Cunningham and Joanna Haywood
2014 – “Handmade By Machines” - The Lighthouse, Glasgow, Curated Karen Dicken
2014 - “Crossing Boundaries”, curated Nicola Cursley-Bond, Cursley & Bond Gallery, part of the Folkestone Triennial arts festival
2015 – “Handmade By Machines” – The Lighthouse, Glasgow, Curated by Karen Dicken and Dauvit Alexander
2015 – “Into the Woods”, curated Nicola Cursley-Bond, Cursley & Bond Gallery, Folkestone
2015 - “Sleight of Hand” exhibition, The Brewhouse Gallery, The Scottish Gallery and Plymouth College of Art, curated by Johnny Rocket, Gaynor Andrews, Lesley Craze and Dorothy Hogg
2016 – “Choice!” exhibition, New Ashgate Gallery, curated by Dr. Outi Remes
2016 – “Imagine” exhibition, Centre for Contemporary Craft and touring, curated Boris Bally
2016 – “Made In The Middle”, various venues around the Midlands, curated Craftspace
2017 – “School of Jewellery Showcase”, Victoria Sewart Gallery, Plymouth.
2022 – 2023 – “{queer}+{metals}” – co-curated with Deirdre Figueiredo, presented by Craftspace. Ferrous Festival, Hereford; Midland Arts Centre, Birmingham.
2022 - present – “Swords into Ploughshares: Knives into Jewels”, touring show, co-curated with Norman Cherry. Various venues around UK and several online versions internationally.
2024 – “No Laughing Matter”, curator. Ferrous Festival, Hereford; School of Jewellery, Birmingham.
2026 – “20 Years of VS”, Victoria Sewart Gallery, Plymouth.
Media Work
If you are interested in becoming a media champion please contact press@bcu.ac.uk
Work With Industry
Dauvit continues with his personal practice. He is active in exploring projects with industry and in recent years has worked with the International Amateur Athletics Federation, Commonwealth Games, Birmingham City Council and The Invictus Games Foundation to bring medal-design projects to the students.