Skills Training
Passing on Skills
1-2-1 SKILLS TRAINING
“I have always been collaborative and believe that passing on and sharing of skills is fundamental to the future of our extraordinary craft”
Rauni Higson
Rauni is proud to have been tutored by a number Master Craftsmen such as Michael Lloyd, Rod Kelly, Christopher Lawrence and Cynthia Eid and believes the passing on skills and techniques to future silversmiths is fundamental to the future of the industry.
Rauni has personally mentored a number of up and coming silversmiths and pioneered the Contemporary British Silversmiths Skills Training Programme which launched in 2016.
Trainee to Trainer Timeline
Lahti Design Institute
Studied gold and silversmithing and design at the Lahti Design Institute Finland. Spent a lot of time watching and learning due to not being a Finnish speaker.
1992Lahti Design Institute
Birmingham University
Final year of BA Hons Silversmithing and Jewellery Birmingham - considering differences between how skills are taught in UK and Finland
2010Birmingham University
Set up Rauni Higson
Set up business with help from the Princes Youth Business Trust
1997Set up Rauni Higson
Masterclass: Brian Clarke
Spent two weeks with Brian Clarke on 'Through the Plasticity of Metal' course. Brian is an intuitive metalsmithing genius - I learned so much, I could see it was a way of life and a lifetime's work.
2001Masterclass: Brian Clarke
Masterclass: Anti-Clastic Raising
One week anti-clastic raising course with Michael Good at Brian Clarke's workshop in Ireland
2003Masterclass: Anti-Clastic Raising
Masterclass: Chris Lawrence
Flat hammering course with Christopher Lawrence at JASSO - quarterly over 2.5 years, followed by one week with Brian Clarke to study large oval raising
2005Masterclass: Chris Lawrence
Masterclass: Chris Lawrence
Spent one week with Chris Lawrence in his workshop funded by ACW
2008Masterclass: Chris Lawrence
Masterclass: Cynthia Eid
Enrolled on one week course with Cynthia Eid in Birmingham studying Syn-clastic and Anti-clastic forming
2011Masterclass: Cynthia Eid
Masterclass: Michael Lloyd
Through the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, I spent time on the master craftsman Internship with Michael Lloyd
2012Masterclass: Michael Lloyd
Masterclass: Rod Kelly
Through the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, I spent time on the master craftsman Internship with Rod Kelly in Shetland
2014Masterclass: Rod Kelly
Masterclass: Angus McFadyen
Through the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, I spent time on the master craftsman Internship with Angus McFadyen
2015Masterclass: Angus McFadyen
Masterclass: Malcolm Appleby
Through the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, I spent time on the master craftsman Internship with Malcolm Appleby
2016Masterclass: Malcolm Appleby
Masterclass: Michael McCrory
Masterclass: Michael McCrory
Launch of CBS STP Pilot
In 2016, with the support of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths, the Pearson Collection and Argex, CBS held its first technical pilot Skills Training Course led by Rauni Higson, 'Raising a Seamed Vessel with Tony Bedford'
2016Launch of CBS STP Pilot
Incorporation of Goldsmiths
During Elements II in Edinburgh, convened meeting with Mary Michel, Tony Bedford and Karin Paynter to discuss the development of a new flexible, national training model to teach specific technical skills to silversmiths and widen their skillset
2016Incorporation of Goldsmiths
Skills Training Programme Pitch
Pitched 3 yr proposal to the Goldsmiths Centre - they supported in Nov 17
2017Skills Training Programme Pitch
STP Year One
Five courses
2018STP Year One
STP Year Two
Five courses
2019STP Year Two
STP Year Three
Physical STP courses cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic. Pivoted to online training.
