Paula Gander ~ Goldsmith RJDip

About

Paula Gander is a contemporary jewellery designer and goldsmith whose work combines refined craftsmanship with a strong sense of place and artistic identity. Originally graduating from DJCA with a BDes in Silversmithing and Jewellery Design, she began her creative journey with a deep appreciation for traditional techniques and thoughtful design. After a distinguished twenty-year career as Faculty Head of Expressive Arts, she retired during the COVID period to return fully to her first love: designing and making jewellery by hand using ethically sourced precious metals and gemstones.

Her practice is rooted in both technical mastery and personal storytelling. In 2022–2023 she completed an intensive year-long stone setting course under the guidance of Master Goldsmith Scott McIntyre, further refining her precision and expanding the sculptural possibilities within her work. Her jewellery reflects a balance between artistic expression and wearable form, informed by years of teaching, creative leadership, and dedication to craft.

Deeply inspired by the rugged beauty and shifting light of the West Scotland coastline, Paula translates natural textures, organic movement, and quiet moments of landscape into contemporary pieces that feel both timeless and distinctive. Through her work, she explores the relationship between material, memory, and place, creating jewellery that carries a sense of narrative as well as enduring elegance.