Theo Fennell unveils RCA Awards winners

Theo Fennell has announced the winners of its annual RCA awards. 

Prizes are awarded to graduating students from the Jewellery and Metal MA programme, with the event now in its sixteenth consecutive year.

While the awards show is typically held at the Royal College of Art, this year’s students had to virtually present their designs to Fennell in light of social distancing. 

Each student was given only minutes to talk him through their inspirations, years’ work and final piece.

Gearry Suen won Overall Excellence, Roxanne Simone won Best Work in Metal and Lara Hirst won Best Work in Jewellery.

As well as a cash prize, the three winners will receive a silver dish, each crafted and engraved by hand in the Theo Fennell workshop. 

Notable past winners of the awards include Ruth Tomlinson, Melanie Georgacopoulos and Jessica Pass.

Theo Fennell said: “It was fascinating to view the work online rather than in the flesh but all the students had produced an incredibly polished presentation given the circumstances and talked about their work with great passion. 

“It is a delight still to be able to award these prizes, despite the situation, to the stars of tomorrow. Gearry, Roxanne and Lara are more than worthy winners and I hope the prizes are a help to them in these strange times.” 

It comes as Theo Fennell has continued to commit to his Gilded Youth initiative, which aims to “encourage great designers for the future as well as giving a voice to emerging young jewellery and silver talent”.

Fennell added: “The Gilded Youth project is our ongoing mission to support and nurture the master jewellers of the future. 

“The reason we sponsor prizes, awards and initiatives for young starters, apprentices and college students at, amongst others, The RCA, Central St Martins and the Goldsmiths Center – is to help them prepare for the future and promote the extraordinary young talent we have in this country.”