Between Craft, History and the Unknown

Annie Warburton, CEO and Clerk of the Goldsmiths’ Company, in conversation with
Silvia Weidenbach and Jon Emmony. Discussing the making of Black Box – a creative journey through history, craft, materials and technology. Together they explore how curiosity, collaboration and experimentation can reveal new ways of seeing and making.

Silvia Weidenbach is an award-winning jeweller working at the intersection of goldsmithing, silversmithing, material culture, and digital innovation. Trained at the Royal College of Art, she was the first Gilbert Collection Artist in Residence at the V&A. Her work is held in major international museum collections. Her practice spans collaborations across luxury, technology, and cultural contexts, developing bespoke, cross-disciplinary adornment that connects craft and technology. She is a Lecturer at The Glasgow School of Art and teaches internationally at London College of Fashion, Designskolen Kolding and HEAD Genève.

Jon Emmony is a director and image maker from London, working across technology and
visual culture. His practice spans CGI, photography, 3D scanning, digital world-building, and more. Selected clients include Prada, BMW, V&A, Bucherer, and Burberry.

Annie Warburton is CEO and Clerk of The Goldsmiths’ Company, and former creative director of the Crafts Council. With more than 20 years’ experience in creative industries organisations that span the private, public, and charity sectors, Annie is a respected specialist in contemporary craft with a track record of delivering tangible impact and creating opportunities for talented people from all backgrounds to achieve their creative potential. She is a council member at Creative UK, a champion at the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, and a fellow of the RSA. She is a skills adviser at QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust), Associate Member of the Artworkers Guild, and Honorary Associate at Newnham College, Cambridge. In 2024, Annie was awarded Fellowship of the City and Guilds of London Institute – the highest honour that the Council can confer on an individual – in recognition of her personal contribution to, and support of, technical education and training, her commitment to skills development and her career-long commitment to equity and diversity.