Gordon Hamme – Chairman

Gordon Hamme has been in the jewellery trade since he left school in 1974. From that time he worked in jewellery retail companies and later ran his own jewellery manufacturing and retailing company. In 1984 he and his wife started Exchange Findings which grew to become a significant player in the precious metals findings (components), bullion products and tools & machinery supply business. Through this company they became knowledgeable about silversmithing and the people in the industry. By the time of its sale to a FTSE 100 company (Cookson PLC), Exchange Findings had achieved £11 million turnover and employed 35 staff on three sites in London and Birmingham and had become a UK wide distribution company.

 

Gordon worked for Cookson Precious Metals from 1996-1999 as a markets, products and companies analyst and was instrumental in new projects and company acquisitions.

 

From 1999 Gordon developed and sold a computer training company and later started J-dex.com a global internet portal for the jewellery and allied industries. From 2001 J-dex magazine was published monthly to highlight jewellery and silversmithing issues to the industry. In 2008 he rebranded the magazine as ‘The Goldsmith’, which became a leading commentator on the jewellery, watch and silversmithing industries.

 

Founded with co-director Brett Payne in 2008 British Silver Week has grown to become The Festival of Silver and has mounted over 80 major exhibitions across the UK bringing new silversmithing talent to the attention of the media and public.

Brett Payne – Director

Brett Payne is a leading Contemporary British Silversmith with over twenty years experience. He is a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths’ and a past chairman and Council member of the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council.

 

Since graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a BA Hons in 3-Dimensional Design Brett Payne has won many awards for his design and craftsmanship. In the mid 1990s he was awarded the title of ‘Designer of the Year’ at the prestigious UK Jewellery Awards. Awards for Technical Innovation, from The Cutlers’ Company, have gone hand in hand with Awards for Design from The Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council, and recently he has won two awards for his work from De Stichting Zilverkunst in Schoonhoven, Holland.

 

Brett Payne has regularly exhibited his work both in the UK and abroad, most notably at The Pompidou Centre, Paris; The Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto; The Keith Lippert Gallery, Washington; The Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow and at The Goldsmiths’ Hall, London. As part of Crafts’ Council exhibitions he has also shown work in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seoul and Berlin.

 

Brett Payne has undertaken many commissions and his work can be seen in numerous collections including the V&A in London and The Cutlers’ Company.

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