Here' a short video of a recent commission I made for a client, celebrating 30 years marriage.  The design features a 2.05ct GIA certified flawless  emerald cut diamond, set in a halo style split shank  pave band. [playlist type="video" ids="745"]

Here is a nice mention in a blog about myself and my fellow business partner Rupert Todd. Please click link below: http://www.goldsmiths-centre.org/blog/2017/march/29/resident-silversmiths-create-new-sculpture-at-shakespeare-s-family-home/

Over the last year  my other company Ursae Ltd has been working on two extremely prestigious sculptures for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Our expertise in bespoke high end luxury goods, landed us with the task to produce two of the sites most detailed and complex pieces. The sculptures are part of the 5.35million pound redevelopment of Shakespeare’s family home 1597 -1616, on Chapel Street in Stratford Upon Avon. The garden has been designed to commemorate the importance of the site and allows visitors to make their own personal connection with Shakespeare. When Shakespeare bought New Place he was an established playwright and it is believed that he wrote his later plays there, including The Tempest. One can follow in Shakespeare’s footsteps through a new entrance on the site of the original gatehouse and enjoy a contemporary landscape that reveals the footprint of the Shakespeare family home. The re-imagined site gives an impression of the scale of New Place and relationship to the surrounding buildings; such as the neighbouring King Edward VI School and Guild Chapel that were once attended by a young Shakespeare. The commissioned artworks and displays throughout the site will evoke a sense of family life and hint at Shakespeare’s major works that were written during the 19 years he owned New Place. Ursae’s role in this special project was to create a Terrestrial Globe depicting the knowledge of Elizabethan period, giving an insight to what Shakespeare and his peers believed the world to look like at that point in time. Showing the world as known by the court of Queen Elizabeth in 1600, and based upon the first English world map, it exhibits both the surprisingly expansive knowledge of the seas, and the focused provincial mindset of the Tudor elite. The unknown world is dark and disturbing, while the known is bright, shining and anglocentric. In addition an extremely detailed Sculpture of a Silver Ship is being created. The ship will suspend almost magically from fine wires supported by a bronze cradle. The perfect glimmering galleon harks back to the mystifying unscathed Ship from the Tempest play.

After an exceptionally busy year, I've had the honour and privilege to exhibit for the third year in a row at this prestigious London selling event. Thank you to everyone who visited my stand and purchased my work.

After a busy week preparing for Goldsmiths' Fair 2015, and having had the pleasure of watching my brother Qualify for the Rio Paralymipics, by winning the Wheelchair Rugby European Chamionships - I am pleased to announce that my stand is set and open for business.

ROYAL COMMISSION FOR AWARD WINNING SILVERSMITH Award winning designer, jeweller and silversmith Ben Ryan recently received one of his most prestigious commissions yet – to design and produce The Perpetual Master’s Badge for HRH The Princess Royal on behalf of The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, one of the City of London’s oldest Livery companies.  Ben was recommended by the Goldsmiths’ Company, as a possible candidate to undertake the prestigious commission, and his design was chosen by committee from a number of entries submitted by various artists.  After months of work the badge was recently presented to Her Royal Highness where she was made The Perpetual Master of The Saddlers’ Company at the Installation Court ceremony held in its magnificent livery hall.  This title only ever goes to a member of the Royal family, and The Princess Royal will retain it for life. The unique badge is made from a mixture of materials including 18 carat white and yellow gold, enamel, sapphires and diamonds.  The settings that hold the stones have been designed in an open scallop set fashion, echoing the U-shaped form of a horseshoe, allowing maximum light to reach each and every stone. The design itself displays The Saddlers’ company crest sporting their motto ‘hold fast, sit sure’, whilst the open fretwork allows the piece to be substantial in size without being too heavy to wear.  Positioned above the badge is the solid blue royal cypher finished off in the style of the badge with sapphires and diamonds around its perimeter edge and this, in turn, is attached to a ribbon made by Eden Ravenscroft, London’s oldest tailor. HRH The Princess Royal’s affiliation with the equestrian world makes her the ideal person to be The Perpetual Master of The Saddlers’ Company, which supports, encourages and promotes the British saddlery industry, not least to ensure its equipment is made to the highest possible standards for the safety and comfort of both the horse and the rider.  The Saddlers’ Company has only ever had two previous Perpetual Masters – Frederick, Prince of Wales from 1737 to 1751 and Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, from 1906-1952. Nigel Lithgow, The Clerk to The Saddlers’ Company, said: “We are absolutely delighted with Ben’s work, which has gone down extremely well with our members.  The piece he produced is beautiful.  It is marvellously well crafted and a credit to him.  We were keen to help encourage a young, relatively up and coming silversmith.  He was recommended by The Goldsmiths’ Company and we hope Ben’s success will help boost his standing in the future.” Commenting on his commission, Ben says: “It was a real honour and privilege to have been selected to design and produce such a rare piece of work for one of the great Livery companies.  As this was only the third ever Perpetual Master’s Badge in the Saddlers’ Company’s extensive history, I felt a real sense of responsibility – and as it was being designed for HRH The Princess Royal it was very important that the piece was elegant and of the highest quality.  After all the weeks of careful planning and manufacture, I was personally very pleased with the outcome, and doubly so after the positive comments and praise I received from both The Saddlers’ Company and The Princess Royal herself.” Ben is currently working from his studio in the Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell, London.  He has won a number of awards as well as commendations for design, craftsmanship, and technological innovation including the ‘Gil Packard Bursary’, and the ‘Young Designer Silversmith Of The Year Award’. Some of Ben’s other work is currently on display at Mappin & Webb in Regent Street, London, where they are exclusively previewing contemporary silver which will be on sale at the renowned Goldsmiths’ Fair which takes place from 22^nd September to 4^th October.  Ben will be exhibiting in week one of the Goldsmiths’ Fair (22^nd to 27^th September) where he will be showing statement pieces together with a selection of luxury homeware and gift items. For further information please visit www.BenjaminJamesRyan.com or contact Ben personally on +44 (0) 7970 22 77 15 or email [email protected]

I Just wanted to say a big thank you to all the judges who picked my design as the winner of the Computer Aided Design section at this years Craftsmanship & Design Awards ‪#‎JewelleryOscars‬ @GCADC Also I'm really pleased to announce that two products from my business URSAE Ltd. were also exhibited at the awards, one of which received a commendation in the 3D Finished Pieces - Smallworkers Section.‪#‎JewelleryOscars‬ @GCADC

I would just like to say a big thank you to all those who came to Goldsmiths' Fair Week 1 last week. The fair was my was first and has been an amazing experience. I have met so many lovely people, talented designers and kind staff, and it has been a real pleasure taking part. For those of you who didn't make it last week there's still time to visit week 2. I won't be there unfortunately, but there is an array of talent and beautiful pieces to see and buy.

Really excited to have been mentioned in the Financial Times How To Spend It. Only two more weeks until my debut exhibition at the prestigious Goldsmiths' Fair 2014. I look forward to seeing those of you who can make it for Week 1 Monday 22nd September until Sunday 28th September 2014!  

‘Luxus’ Salt & Pepper Grinders: Over the last couple of months I have been working on producing this very special pair of sterling silver, part gilt, and diamond set Salt & Pepper Grinders for the Christies ‘Special Dining Exhibition’. The pieces themselves are fitted with state of the art ceramic grinding mechanisms suitable for both salt and pepper and are produced using a mixture of traditional silversmithing techniques alongside cutting edge new technology. They are aptly named the ‘Luxus’ Salt & Pepper Grinders Latin for Luxury and Extravagance, due to the materials they are made from and the sheer amount of work poured into both their design and manufacture! They are without doubt one of the most challenging designs I have made to date, but now all the long hours of designing and making has passed… I’m really happy with the outcome. I hope you like them too…

As a result of the Christies Online Auction, I was asked to do a little photo shoot and interview based around my work and a new design of mine: My ‘Luxus’ Salt & Pepper Grinders – made exclusively for Christies Dining Exhibition and Online Contemporary Silver Sale.

The Mini Bio on me and my work can be found on the Christies website or via the link below…

http://www.christies.com/sales/contemporary-silver-august-2013/british-silversmiths.aspx#slide-9

I am really pleased and excited to announce that I currently have a selection of some of my pieces for sale in Christies Auction House, London! The sale is hosting 61 of some of the best silversmiths from the CBS (The Contemporary British Silversmiths Society) and has an assortment of 186 pieces available for purchase ranging from £570.00 up to £48000.00 The sale is currently live and in a ‘Buy it now’ type format. All the work is truly amazing and must really be seen in the flesh. The work itself is displayed in Christies main exhibition hall at: 8 King Street London, SW1Y 6QT. It is well worth a trip to go and see, and in a beautiful part of London too, and open seven days a week.    

Hi Everyone! As some of you may know my time on the Goldsmiths’ Centre Post Graduate Course has come to an end. It’s been a brilliant experience for me and I feel like I have learnt a lot along the way… and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved at the Centre and further afield who have made the last year and a half an enjoyable and productive one… With special thanks to Dr. Stuart Devlin and his wife Carole and the Centre’s Director Peter Taylor!

From the beginning of this year I have also been busy setting up a new business with a colleague of mine named Rupert Todd. The business is called Wax-Masters and is essentially a bespoke CAD bureau, where we Rapid Prototype our client’s design ideas into 3D directly castable waxes. Alongside this we also offer a bespoke 3D modelling service (competent to take on any challenge), as well as CAD tuition in partnership with Simply Rhino UK.

I am also very pleased to announce that I will be continuing to work from the Goldsmiths’ Centre, London EC1M 5AD, as we have just moved into our new design Studio No.3.06.

For more information on Wax-Masters and its services please visit www.Wax-Masters.com .

Just a quick one… But I thought I’d let you all know that there is currently a two page spread on my Olympic Fruit Bowl at the moment in the Fine Silver Magazine July/August/September Edition.

Olympic Fruit Bowl

Fit For Purpose Exhibition Purpose: To Hold A Sprinters Fuel… For Every Nation A Jewel… My Piece was inspired by the exhibition title fit for purpose, with an Olympic theme in mind to celebrate the London 2012 games. The design plays with the meaning of the brief and the connotations of fitness associated with the Olympics. The purpose of the piece is to hold fruit. The steel running spikes provide protection for the more delicate gem stones found inside… and the bowl echo’s similarities with the natural world by protecting its precious contents like many fruits such as a lychee or pineapple. There are 205 spikes and stones: the exact number of nations taking part in London 2012. The citrine, white topaz and smokey quartz are selected to represent the gold, silver and bronze of the games. The piece will be on show from the 28/03/2012 till 28/09/2012… So if you’re in or around London do try and pop in and see it. There are obviously lots of other wonderful things to see because it’s the V&A!!! But to find my piece head for the Silver Gallery up on the 3rd floor, directly above the restaurant… Please let me know what you think!

I would just like to say a big thank you to the Goldsmiths’
Company, the Goldsmiths’ Institute and the Packard family for my most recent
success at the Craftsmanship & Design Awards ceremony held on the 06/03/2012 at the Goldsmiths’ Hall (St. Pauls).

I was very fortunate to receive two Commendations this year:

1. For design
Innovation and Technology

2. For Silversmithing
Craftsmenship

On top of this I found myself winning the Gil Packard Prize ! A bursary given to a
student currently on or due to attend a postgraduate course/qualification, who
is showing exceptional promise in their chosen field.

I am obviously really happy with my achievements this year and
it is a real honour to be listed alongside so many other brilliant designers
and highly skilled makers!

Please See Link Of Award Winners:

http://www.craftanddesigncouncil.org.uk/12winners.html

Just a quick update for those of you who don’t already know:
On the 08/02/2012 I started as 1 of 6 on the new Postgraduate course at the new
17.5 million pound project that is the Goldsmiths’ Centre.

The building is absolutely fantastic, with all the mod-cons
and is located on Britton Street, just a minute’s walk from Farringdon station.

Contact:

The Goldsmiths’ Centre,
42 Britton Street,
Clerkenwell,
London

EC1M 5AD

Tel: 0207 566 7650

[email protected]

[email protected]

• Follow us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter

It would be really good if any of you are in the area to pop in
and have a look around and see some of the projects I’m working on… and maybe
even grab a coffee in the Centre’s coffee shop the ‘Bench’

I will keep you all posted on any news and up and coming
events and look forward to seeing you soon!