Gillian E. Batcher is a Toronto-based artist who designs and produces one of a kind and limited edition jewellery from her downtown studio.
Ms. Batcher’s work explores volume and weight to create sculptural pieces of hollow-ware and jewellery. Through design innovation, she applies traditional techniques to the creation of modern art and jewellery.
With very supportive art-loving parents (including a mother who writes full time, a grandmother who painted and another grandmother who made jewelry), Gillian was clearly predisposed to such creative pursuits. While Ms Batcher vividly recalls being moved by her grandfather who regularly spoke about art and beauty, she also benefitted greatly from art lessons provided by a wonderful Great Aunt and mentoring by Ellen Reidt who owned a well-known supply store called “The Bead Boutique”.
Ms. Batcher’s promise became evident to all at a very early age.
“I was always making things as a kid and selling them”, Gillian recalls. “I remember making leather bracelets with buttons sewn on and selling them to friends when I was 11, and then I sold friendly plastic hair clips to the IT Store at 12, and by 13 I sold a line of brooches to an upscale women’s clothing shop”.
After earning a degree in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario, Gillian chose to pursue her artistic passion by securing a certificate in Jewellery Arts from George Brown College, graduating from both with distinction. She then went on to an intensive jewellery making course in Florence, Italy. Ms. Batcher has since participated in numerous art shows and exhibitions in Canada and the United States and has been the recipient of various awards for both technical and artistic achievement.
Gillian’s studio, Jewel Envy, has become a creative hub for like-minded goldsmiths to work in the same environment and support each other’s artistic endeavors. She modeled her studio after Harbourfront Center’s craft corridor where she was an artist in residence for three years upon completing her jewellery training.
In addition to making her pieces and running the studio, she teaches classes at Jewel Envy, George Brown College, and the Ontario College of Art and Design.
