Jacqueline Cullen
Whitby jet is a prehistoric black fossil most commonly associated with Victorian mourning jewellery, the trend for wearing jet jewellery was started by Queen Victoria in response to the death of her consort Prince Albert. Mined during its heyday, Whitby jet is now rare. Jacqueline’s supplier abseils down the cliffs on a rope collecting raw samples from disused caves and mines.
Jacqueline Cullen has developed innovative processes and formats that celebrate rather than disguise the inherent flaws and inclusions of Whitby jet allowing the natural beauty of the material to speak for itself, removed from connotations of death, grief and morbidity.
Jacqueline has received an Arts council grant and the Balvenie Master of Craft award (stone category). Her work has been featured in Vogue, Financial Times, The Independent, Wallpaper*and on BBC TV and radio. Her contemporary Whitby jet has been commissioned by the Harry Potter franchise and was worn by Deborah Meaden throughout the last series of Dragons Den 2010 (BBC2). Jacqueline is being mentored by Georgia Fendley, the brand director of British luxury brand Mulberry as part of the Crafted programme run by Arts and Business.
Jacqueline Cullen is the only person working with Whitby jet in a non-traditional way and she remains committed to introducing this ancient and sensual material to a contemporary audience.
Education
2000 - 2003: First class BA Honours Jewellery Design, Central Saint Martins
Commissions and Collections
Deborah Meadon: two pieces worn throughout the whole series of Dragon's Den 2011
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: accessories for Narcissa (released July 2009)
Alice and Louis Koch ring collection Switzerland
Donna Karan (private collection)
Contemporary museum collection, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Awards
2011 - Balvenie Masters of Craft: winner in the stone category
2011 - Crafted: mentoring by Georgia Fendley, brand director for Mulberry
2008 - Arts Council Grants for the Arts
2008 - Equipment grant from City Fringe Partnership
2006 - Highly commended for stand presentation at Origin, Somerset House
2004 - Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) research bursary
