A new display and forthcoming talk in Aberdeen celebrate the career of engraver Malcolm Appleby, whose work has spanned more than six decades and is held in collections across the United Kingdom.
Aberdeen Art Gallery is marking the 80th birthday of Dr Malcolm Appleby with a new exhibition display and a public talk reflecting on his long career in silversmithing and engraving.
The display brings together jewellery and applied art from the gallery’s own collection alongside works loaned from private collectors. It offers visitors a view of Appleby’s distinctive approach, shaped by influences drawn from the natural world, myth and personal experience. His work is known for combining detailed craftsmanship with imaginative themes, often incorporating elements of humour.
Among the pieces included are examples of the Banchory Bangle, a series that has become closely associated with his name. Appleby has created a new bangle each year since 1976, drawing inspiration from nature. These pieces have been raffled annually in support of Children First Scotland.
The origins of the Banchory Bangle lie in Appleby’s time at Crathes Station in Aberdeenshire, where he lived and worked for 27 years after acquiring the property in 1969. It was there that he developed and produced the first of the bangles, establishing a form that would allow him to explore a wide range of designs, often featuring local flora and fauna.
Appleby’s work extends beyond jewellery to include bowls and other objects in gold and silver. His pieces are held in museum and gallery collections across the United Kingdom, reflecting the breadth of his practice and its recognition within the field of applied arts.
His commissions have included work for institutions such as the London Assay Office, 10 Downing Street, the Royal Armouries and Bute House, as well as work associated with the coronet of Charles, Prince of Wales. In 2014 he was awarded an MBE for services to hand engraving and heritage crafts. Further recognition followed with an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2020 and election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2021.
Within the exhibition, works such as Swan Bowl No 2 demonstrate the level of detail achieved in his engraving, while other pieces incorporate imagery drawn from Celtic tradition, including mythical motifs. Additional examples of his work, including the Cressbrooke Teapot and the Gold Feather Necklace, are displayed elsewhere in the gallery.
The exhibition forms part of a wider programme of activity at the gallery and coincides with the centenary of Cowdray Hall. Appleby is due to speak there on 16 April, where he will discuss his creative practice and reflect on key moments from his career.
He has described his years at Crathes Station as an important period in his development, shaping both his techniques and the themes that recur in his work. The continuation of the Banchory Bangle series remains a central part of his practice, with the 50th edition expected to be marked next year.
The exhibition, titled Collected: Malcolm Appleby MBE, runs at Aberdeen Art Gallery until 10 January 2027. Admission is free. The accompanying talk at Cowdray Hall on 16 April is ticketed, with concessions available.
The display provides an opportunity to view a selection of work that reflects the continuity of a long career in Scottish craft, bringing together pieces that highlight both technical skill and sustained creative exploration over time.
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