We are delighted to announce that Anna Olafsson is this year’s winner of the 2025 Silver Society Prize for her “Arctic Tern Vessel”. Epona Smith received a highly creditable second prize for her “Echoes of Joy” beakers.
Anna Ólafsson MFA (DJCAD) is a British-Icelandic artist and designer based in the Scottish Borders. Working across the fields of drawing, painting, printmaking, etching and engraving, she makes artworks from metal, paper and light, inspired by the natural world.
She trained in metalwork and hand engraving with the celebrated engraver, designer, jeweller, goldsmith and silversmith, Dr Malcolm Appleby MBE FRSE, at his workshop in Grandtully, Highland Perthshire. Anna’s studies were generously supported by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and the Walter Craig Charitable Trust, Dundee.
In 2024 Anna was awarded a month-long fully funded scholarship with renowned silversmith and designer Rod Kelly to study the arts of chasing and silversmithing. Anna was resident at the Muckle Roe workshop in Shetland from June to early July 2024, making new work in silver and developing her chasing skills. She will be returning to Rod Kelly’s workshop in July 2025 to complete another one month scholarship, with thanks to the South House Silver Workshop Trust.
Anna is a current artist in residence, working from South Studio at the Hugo Burge Foundation, Greenlaw, Duns, The Scottish Borders.
Further information on both silversmiths and their work will be added to the website shortly.
