The internationally acclaimed engraver Malcolm Appleby MBE has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Lord Major of Birmingham on behalf of the Hand Engravers Association of Great Britain.
The ‘Training The Trainers’ event in Birmingham, was attended by a glittering line up of the UK’s most talented silversmiths and engravers and focussed on discussing the needs of hand engravers and laying plans for the training of future engravers.
“All things said, however, it is not an obituary; I have no intention of stopping!” Malcolm Appleby
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Shafique Shah attended and awarded The Hand Engravers Association Lifetime Achievement Award to Appleby who has been engraving for over 50 years. The award was in acknowledgement for the legendary silversmith’s unique contribution to the Art of Hand Engraving, extraordinary skill, originality and craftsmanship and the generosity in passing on skills with such openheartedness to so many. Appleby, who was awarded an MBE for his services to hand engraving and heritage crafts in 2014, is recognised as one of the finest engravers and silversmiths in the world.
Dr. Appleby receiving his Award. From left to right; Duncan Baird-Murray – Chairman, Hand Engravers Association, Chris Rowley – Founder, Hand Engravers Association, Alan Craxford – Vice Chairman, Hand Engravers Association, Councillor Shafique Shah – Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Malcolm Appleby MBE
On receiving his award, Appleby said:
“It was a lovely gathering of professional engravers from all fields of the skill and art and a humbling honour to be presented the lifetime achievement. All things said, however, it is not an obituary; I have no intention of stopping!”
Throughout the event, The Hand Engravers Association highlighted the importance of recognising and promoting the highest level of skill, craftsmanship and design used with hand engraving both now and in to the future. Celebrating the extraordinary quality of work in the United Kingdom and also ensuring that it is recognised internationally.
Exquisite detail on the Prince of Wales Cup by Malcolm Appleby
Chris Rowley of the Hand Engravers Association said:
“The art of hand engraving is at a pivotal point in its history. Practitioners of this skill are busier than ever. However with over 40% reaching retirement age, there is a need to find practical ways to pass on these skills, maintain diversity and enable the next generation of hand engravers to provide a much sought after technique.”
The event celebrating the art of Hand Engraving was held at The Drop Forge in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and was hosted by The Hand Engravers Association (HEA) and jointly supported by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
Malcolm Appleby in his workshop in Grandtully Perthshire, Scotland
Further Hand Engraving Events being held throughout 2015 are detailed below:
Training the Trainers Event: London
This second Training the Trainers event will take place at Craft Central in Clerkenwell, London from 2nd to 8th March 2015.
Hand Engraving Symposium
7th, 8th, 9th August 2015
Edinburgh & Grantully
For more information contact Karin Paynter on info@karinpaynter.com
Tel: 07939 236508
http://www.handengravers.co.uk
To contact Malcolm Appleby:
Tel: 01887 840 484
email: swapp@dircon.co.uk
Main image features The ‘Banchory Bangle’ made by Malcolm Appleby in aid of Children 1st charity. Every year since the 1970s, he has made three exclusive bangles with a different design of gold and silver, which are then raffled off at the charity’s annual fundraising Touch of Tartan Ball. In recent years, the bangle has raised in the region of £11,000 annually for Children 1st. Details to enter the raffle will be announced soon.
