Mari Thomas

Education & Qualifications
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1995 B.A. (Hons) Three Dimensional Design (Metals) Surrey Institute of Art and Design

1993 Higher National Diploma - Jewellery / Silversmithing University of Central England

1991 Foundation Diploma - Art and Design Carmarthenshire College of Technology and Art

Awards / Competitions
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Winner Business Woman of the year - International Women's Day Carmarthenshire 2008

Finalist Business Achievement Award - Swansea Bay Woman of the Year 2008

Finalist Exporter of the Year - Carmarthenshire Business Awards 2008

Finalist Welsh Artist of the Year Competition (2007, 2006, 2005, 2003)

Finalist Itami International Craft Exhibition - Japan (2003)

Gold Medal Winner National Eisteddfod of Wales - Meifod (2003)

Finalist Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales (2002, 2001, 1997)

Award Winner Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales - Llanelli (2000)

Finalist Spirit of Ll?n Art Competition (2003)

Finalist Craft West '99 (1999)

Selected Commissions
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2008 Arts and Business Trophies Arts and Business Cymru Awards (in collaboration with Nicola Palterman)

Wedding rings and wedding jewellery Sian Lloyd and Jonathan Ashman (featured in Hello magazine)

Corporate gifts International Business Wales

2007 The Prince William Cup Welsh Rugby Union in collaboration with HRH Prince William (in collaboration with Nicola Palterman)
Bardic Crown National Eisteddfod of Wales
(Donated by the National Museums and National Library of Wales and made in silver with 22ct gold)

Wedding rings Ioan Gruffudd (featured in Hello magazine)

Private commission Wedding gifts for actors Ioan Gruffydd and Alice Evans

Private Commission Tim Rhys Evans - Welsh National Opera Music Director

2006 Bardic Crown National Eisteddfod of Wales
(Donated by in memory of Arch Druid Dafydd Rowlands and made in silver with 18ct green gold)

Central display piece and game components
S4C & Presentable Television Company - 'Tipit' Game Show

Private Commission Carlo Rizzi - Director of the Welsh National Opera

2005 Executive Gifts British Embassy in Buenos Aries

2004 Chain of Office Llangyndeyrn Community Council

2003 Silver Trophy Society of Welsh Poets

Eisteddfod crown Stradey Comprehensive School -

Lapel Pins Cymdeithas Brodwaith Cymru / Welsh Embroiders Guild

2001 Madoc Award Commission The Sunday Times Hay Festival Award for author David Aaronovitch

Silver Bracelet Ysgol Farddol Caerfyrddin presented to Dr Mererid Hopwood


2000 Letter Rack Llanelli Town Council

Exhibitions
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2008 Wales on Wall St Exhibition Broad St Ball Room, New York
Wales in Boston Exhibition British Consulate General, Cambridge, Boston
Jewellery Exhibition Peipers & Kojen Gallery - Lexington Avenue, New York

2007 Christmas Exhibition Electrum Gallery, London
Jewellery and Texture Arai Atelier Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Wedding and Valentines Show Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery Yorkshire
Reflections, Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
All that Glitters Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery
Design Nation at Home Design Nation, London

2006 Goldsmiths Fair Goldsmiths Hall, London
Design Nation Exhibition Aqua Gallery, Mayfair, London
Made in Wales Time Warner Centre - New York
30 Necklaces Exhibition Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasglow
International Business Day Exhibition Liberty Stadium, Swansea

2005 Design Nation at Home Exhibition Private House, London
Christmas Exhibition Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasglow
Christmas Exhibition Platform Gallery, Clitheroe
Christmas Exhibition Artifex Gallery, Birmingham
Jewellery Showcase Washington Gallery, Penarth
Jewellery Showcase Wrexham Arts Centre
Christmas Exhibition Courtroom Gallery, Lampeter
Jewellery Showcase Denbigh Art Gallery
Jeweller of the month Artifex Gallery, Sutton Coldfield
Jewellery Showcase Crane Gallery, Mumbles
Inter Celtic Festival Exhibition Lorient, Brittany
Ambiente International Interior Design Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
Jewellery Showcase Crawford Arts Centre, Scotland
Wales @ Wafi Exhibition Dubai
'Sparkle' Jewellery evening and exhibition at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli
Jewellery Showcase Celf, Mumbles, Swansea
Jewellery Showcase The Silver Studio, Cardiff

2004 Christmas Jewellery Exhibition Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Twinkle Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Carmarthen
Christmas Exhibition Oriel Ynys Mon
Inter Celtic Festival Exhibition Lorient, Brittany
Ambiente International Interior Design Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
Jewellery Showcase The March Hare Gallery Ripon, N. Yorkshire

2003 International Craft Exhibition Itami - Japan
Arts and Crafts Exhibition National Eisteddfod of Wales, Meifod
Welsh Artist of the Year St David's Hall, Cardiff
Jewellery Showcase The Albany Gallery - Cardiff
The Sprirt of Ll?n Exhibition Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw
Jewellery Showcase The Craft Centre and Design Gallery Leeds
Jewellery Showcase St Davids Hall - Cardiff
Jewellery Showcase Mission Gallery, Swansea

2002 Showcase National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
Making their Way Model House Craft and Design Centre, Llantrisant
Showcase Arts council of Wales, Museum Place, Cardiff
Christmas Exhibition Oriel Unys Mon, Anglesey
Jewellery Showcase The Contemporary Craftsman, Monmouth
Jewellery Showcase Pyramid Gallery - York
Showcase Monkey Puzzle Gallery - York
Drawn Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Carmarthen

2001 Arts Council of Wales Exhibition National Eisteddfod of Wales, Denbighshire
Take Flight Oriel Myrddin Carmarthen
Visible St David's Hall, Cardiff
Jewellery Showcase York Castle Museum

2000 Collectorplan Launch Crafts Council -National Botanical Gardens of Wales
Reflections 2000 Carmarthenshire Touring exhibition
Making Waves Craft in the Bay, Cardiff

1999 Craft West 99 West Wales Touring Exhibition
Showcase The Gallery Celtic Manor - Newport

1998 Craft Focus Swansea Arts Workshops Gallery
Light of my Life Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Carmarthen

1996 21st Open House Exhibition Redhll, Surrey

1995 Antonio Pollock Gallery St. Christopher's Place - London
Make Butlers Wharf London
20th Open House Exhibition Redhill, Surrey

1995 New Designers London

Solo Exhibitions
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2003 - 2004 Solo Touring Exhibition Touring various UK Galleries

2002 Solo Exhibition Oriel Myrddin Gallery

Exclusive Collections
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Launched 2006 The Dylan Thomas Boathouse - Exclusive Cufflink Collection

Launched 2005 The National library of Wales - Exclusive jewellery collection

2004 'Eifyonedd Collection' - Collaborative jewellery collection with Enameller Emma Sedman
for UK Solo touring Exhibition and also subsequently featured in the 'Directory of Decorative Finishes' by Jinks McGrath

Current Galleries / Outlets stocking selected collections
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Peipers & Kojen Gallery, Lexington Avenue, New York

The Cinamon Tree Bristol

Model House Craft and Design Centre, Llantrisant Wales

Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Wales

Llantarnum Grange, Wales

National Library of Wales

National Museums and Galleries of Wales

Natonal Botanic Gardens of Wales

Castell Henllys, Pembrokeshire

The Golden Sheaf Gallery, Narberth, Wales

Tonnau Gallery, Pwllhelli, Gwynedd, Wales

Siop Ty Tawe, Swansea,, Wales

Guage Gallery St Ives, Cornwall

Adra - www.adrahome.com

Collaborative Projects with other artists
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Designer Jeweller Nicola Palterman

2007 Series of Exhibitions National Eisteddfod of Wales
Jewellery Exhibition Exhibition Hall, National Eisteddfod of Wales
Silver miniature chair and crown Pontrhydfendigaid Eisteddfod

Jewellery Exhibition Exhibition Hall, National Eisteddfod of Wales
Jewellery Exhibition The Ring Cycle, Wales Millennium Centre

2005 to date Bespoke jewellery Peace Mala Organisation endorsed by Beth Neilson Chapman and Bonnie Tyler

Exclusive jewellery collection Stradey Park supporters shop
Executive corporate gifts Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli

2005 'Floating Diamonds Limited edition jewellery collection
'Sparkle' Jewellery evening and exhibition at the Stradey Park Hotel
Jewellery Exhibition Exhibition Hall, National Eisteddfod of Wales

Yorkshire Enameller and Jeweller Emma Sedman

2004 'Eifyonedd Collection'
Collaborative jewellery collection with Enameller Emma Sedman for UK Solo touring Exhibition and also subsequently featured in the
'Directory of Decorative Finishes' by Jinks McGrath

2003 to date
York Jeweller and Pearl Specialist Charmian Ottaway

Numerous private commissions

2005 Fashion Designer Jane Davies

Fashion Show and Exhibition - Town House Club, Cardiff

Features include the following publications
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HELLO! Featured in the weddings of Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Evans and Sian Lloyd and Jonathan Ashman

Vogue Dazzle this December

Vogue - Loves Me, Loves Me Not

Tatler - Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Complete Jewellery Making Course by Jinks McGrath published by Quatro Publishing In the UK and US

The Jewelr's directory of Decorative Finishes by Jinks McGrath published by Quatro Publishing in the UK and US

Retail Jeweller - Hall of Fame

WRU web site

Wales on Sunday

Western Mail

Ninnau - North American Welsh Newspaper

Busnes - Welsh Development Agency Publication

Welsh Country Magazine

WM Magazine

One Wales Magazine

Identity - Interior design magazine, Dubai

One Wales Magazine

Cambria Magazine

Swansea Life

Sian Lloyd article -The Daily Post

ELLE Girl

Feng Shui for Modern Living

Art Review Magazine

Television and Radio include the following
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Wales Today HRH Prince William Cup feature with Nicola Palterman

WRU web site recording

Y Bridas Fawr S4C supplied jewellery worn by presentors

National Weather BBC Designed and made jewellery worn by Sian Lloyd

Tipit Designed and made central pieces for game show and all the jewellery worn by presenter

On Show BBC - Articles for the 2006 and 2007 National Eisteddfod Crowns

Risg S4C Supplied jewellery worn by presenter Sian Lloyd

The Visit HTV, Articles for the 2006 and 2007 National Eisteddfod Crowns

Newyddion S4C

Ar ol Tri (After Three) S4C Television

Wedi 3 SAC Digitol

News / Newyddion S4C,

Radio Wales

Wales Today BBC

Prynhawn Da S4C

Ar ol Chwech S4C

HENO S4C

Radio Cymru

Swansea Bay Radio

Yorkshire Coast Radio

Associations / Memberships
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Crafts Council - National Register of Makers

Association for Contemporary Jewellery

Axis Artist Database

Goldsmiths Hall selected list of makers - www.whoswhoisgoldandsilver.com

Design Nation - www.designnation.co.uk