My Background and Training

For years I worked at another profession, and my artistic interests lay dormant, - although I was a keen collector of art.
Eventually I decided upon a Foundation Course at the University of Gloucestershire.  Here I discovered the fascinating possibilities of painting, and I went on to complete a BA with Honours in Fine Art.

When I finished, I was alive to the fact that for me to succeed I had to have my work seen.  One way to do this was not to continue with the very large canvasses I had been doing, but to make my paintings in miniature so that they could travel easily to art galleries.

I attended the School of Jewellery in Birmingham for two years, gaining a Post Graduate Diploma, and there finding my true vocation, which is to make very colourful jewellery.  For this I have to thank my MA tutor, Barbara Newport for her inspiring guidance and instruction.

My Activities Today

I am a self-employed artist, and I devote my entire time to this.  I do not supplement my income with teaching or holding workshops.  I make my art, and leave others to sell it for me.

I am in my workshop every day from early morning.  I also have some indispensable contacts with other makers who, also working by hand, help with some of the finishing stages of my jewellery.

I am constantly developing my designs [how I make pieces is set out on the homepage of this website], and my priority is to evolve my range of jewellery, to meet the growing demand for it.

I currently supply around 160 galleries in the UK, maintaining regular contact with all, and aiming to be as efficient as I possibly can in meeting their requirements.  Of course, I am always interested in exploring new relationships as opportunities arise, so I would be keen to hear from galleries who like the look of my work.

Associations and Professional Bodies

I am a keen member of the Association for Contemporary Jewellery. I am a member of Design Gap, and frequently exhibit with them at exhibition centres.

Watch this Space…

I am also keen to export.  Through Business Link, I am finding outlets in Italy, where I have had work shown via the British Council magazine. Similarly I am trying to make connections in the USA.  I am currently participating in the Passport to Export Scheme run by Business Link.

I am in discussions with a photographer over a video about my jewellery, which might be valuable to potential clients overseas, as well perhaps as some in the UK.

Another ambition of mine is to build up a multi-media travelling exhibition consisting of my paintings, installations, jewellery, and a digital photography slide show.  To this end I have employed a curator to help me assemble a really dynamic collection of my art.

Interest has been shown by public galleries, and I am currently developing a proposal.

www.michaelpeckitt.com is for me as an artist, the site is designed primarily for galleries and other outlets to visit.  This site is also being developed to include an art gallery of my paintings and installations.  As my real art exhibition is curated, so too will be my virtual exhibition until this reflects the travelling show intended for public art galleries.  Visitors to the virtual gallery will be able to sign the visitors’ catink which will be a means of communicating with them later to inform them of the venues for the show.

www.verycolourfuljewellery.com is designed specifically for interactive sales and equally important, as a means for payment for my overseas outlets.  The models reflect the variety of women I believe like wearing my jewellery; they are all teachers at Cheltenham Ladies College.

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