CARRYING ON A TRADITION OF MASTERCRAFT IN ORKNEY

Karen Duncan is a Burray lass, and her award-winning jewellery designs strongly reflect her local roots in the linked South Isles. Having honed her skills over the past three decades, Karen was the first Orkney jeweller to be admitted into the Guild of Master Craftsmen.

This accolade reflects Karen’s lifelong interest in craft and design. From an early age, she showed an interest in working with her hands, and as a teenager, she was fortunate enough to work with renowned silversmith David Hodge at his workshop in Burray, during the school holidays.

“I loved seeing the transformation from raw material to finished objects,” Karen recalls.

This is how Karen became the latest in a glorious golden chain of Orkney jewellery designers that spans the generations. David had previously taught renowned isles makers including Ola Gorie. Karen would later go on to become a trainee with Ola, before eventually launching her own workshop and brand in 2007.

Today, working with stunning views overlooking the fourth Churchill Barrier for inspiration, Karen is happiest creating new designs, experimenting with different textures and colours, perfecting each piece before it is packaged up ready for sale. Her designs, inspired by the rich culture and history of Orkney’s linked South Isles, including the Churchill Barriers and the Italian Chapel, comprises mostly silver and gold pieces — although she can work in any precious metal. A labour of love, each design takes time to perfect, with a collection often taking 12 to18 months from concept to launch.

Karen comes from a long line of craftspeople. Her father designed and made wooden boats with his father and brother in the Burray boatyard operated by at least five generations of the Duncan family. They worked by eye and fine judgement, using an intimate knowledge of their materials and their craft to fashion boats which travelled all over the world.

Karen has adapted these inherited skills and her natural problem-solving abilities to the world of jewellery making. She can turn her hand to anything: one-off commissioned pieces for special occasions, remodelling or repairing existing pieces, as well as making her own designs.

From bubbles on the sea shore to the distinctive concrete blocks of the Churchill Barriers, Karen draws on the historic and landscape features around her to create her beautifully finished pieces.

A selection of our jewellery is available at the following places: The Longship, Kirkwall Starlings, Kirkwall Faireens, Kirkwall Robertson’s Coffeehouse & Bar, St Margaret’s Hope Workshop Loft & Gallery, St Margaret’s Hope The Sands Hotel, Burray Orkney Fossil & Heritage Centre, Burray Tomb of the Eagles, South Ronaldsay The Pier Arts Centre, Stromness Wild Heather Crafts, Hoy and some collections can be viewed at The Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm