Alumni Stories - Eimear Conyard
"Be open to all the possibilities because, through exploration and experimentation, you may find yourself going in directions you never thought existed or possible before."
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Name: Eimear Conyard
Current Career (Field): Educator, Jeweller, Goldsmith, Silversmith.
Graduation Year: 1995
Discipline(s): Jewellery & Objects
Location (Working/Living): Kilkenny, Ireland
What career path did you want to follow as a child?
I don’t think I knew what I wanted to do when I was growing up but, it was very clear from the start that I liked to build things. I became immersed in the creative process, both two dimensional and three dimensional art.
Why did you decide to study at National College of Art & Design?
Initially, I did a Foundation Course at Manchester Polytechnic. The foundation course provided me with the opportunity to experiment and play with all sorts of materials and mediums. I discovered metal. The foundation course was key to me choosing the right career path.
Following this foundation art course, I applied to NCAD and into the degree course in second year. NCAD is the best art and design College in Ireland and the one that everyone wants to get into. One of the main reasons I chose NCAD was because it offered a specialist subject jewellery and metalwork degree programme. While some other institutions provide more interdisciplinary courses, where subject specialisation was not possible until much later in the degree, I wanted to focus on metalwork and design from the start.
How did you develop your career towards your current job or practice?
After graduation in 1995, I set up a studio in Temple Bar with three other NCAD jewellery and metal graduates straight after I finished my degree. Two years later, I was offered the opportunity to come back to NCAD as a part-time technician in the Metals Area. At this stage, I had what is now referred to as a portfolio career. When I was not working part-time for National College of Art & Design, I was working in my studio on commissions and exhibition pieces.
In 1998, I decided to do a Master’s Degree at the Glasgow School of Art. It was a two year programme.
In 2000, I returned to Ireland to set up a workshop in Carlingford, Co Louth. I worked on private commissions and produced work for national and international exhibitions. This experience helped lead to an exciting offer and opportunity to become a visiting lecturer on the Summer School Programme at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Canada. The short summer job worked out so well that they offered me a full-time lecturer contract on their BA in Jewellery and Silversmithing programme for the next three years.
In 2003, I took up a position as lecturer at the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University in the UK where I worked for 5 years. Working at the School of Jewellery, which is located in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, gave me an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the jewellery trade. It also provided the opportunity to work alongside highly skilled and experienced goldsmiths, silversmiths, horologists, gemmologist and masters in the field of jewellery.
In 2008, I moved back to Ireland when I was appointed Course Leader and Manager of the Jewellery and Goldsmithing Course at the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland in Kilkenny. This course has very recently been validated as a BA Hons Degree. It is a specialist degree programme in jewellery, goldsmithing and design.
What is the one experience during your time at NCAD that has informed you most in your career and work to date?
In my final year at NCAD I designed and made a series of individual pendant watches in mixed materials. Each watch was presented in its own bespoke display case. Through using very accurate engineering equipment like lathes and milling machines, I realised the importance of finish and craftsmanship. These processes pushed me to ensure my hands skills were up to the same standard. The need to achieve the very highest level of finish, accuracy and craftsmanship in my work has stayed with me ever since.
If you were chatting with current NCAD students today what is the one piece of advice you would offer?
Don’t have preconceived notions on finished design too early on in projects. Be open to all the possibilities because through exploration and experimentation you may find yourself going in directions you never thought existed or possible before.
When setting out, don’t be too concerned about developing your own personal style or look. This can really stunt your growth as a maker and designer. Your style will come in time and probably when you least expect it.
Don’t wait for skills to come to you, you have to go and look for them.
Know and understand what your tutors skills and strengths are. Work with them as much as possible to have them pass on their knowledge to you.
Your degree at NCAD will be over before you know it. Really try to value and grasp your opportunity while you can.
What new opportunities have developed for you as a result of changes in work practice during the Covid pandemic?
As a result of the global pandemic so much high quality practical information is now available online. There are lots of free and paid online courses that cater to most interests. Beyond the ones found on Youtube, you might also look at Domestika and Twitch. This provides students with an unbelievable bank of knowledge into materials, process and design. In combination with NCAD teaching and learning, these online resources become invaluable tools.
