The Lifetime Achievement Award

Tony Bedford’s journey as a master silversmith began at a young age, fuelled by an unwavering passion for his craft. His commitment to excellence and artistic ingenuity has not only earned him the prestigious Jacques Cartier Memorial Award twice but has also left an indelible and long-lasting mark on the UK silversmithing and jewellery industries.

Bedford's artistic expertise, competent craftsmanship and unwavering commitment to the craft have earned him widespread acclaim, high regard and recognition across the profession. Inspired by a picture of Michelangelo’s Madonna della Pietà which had sat on his bedside table for years, Bedford remarks “I just loved it. It's just such a beautiful piece, and I thought, well, I've got to have a go at it.” This was the genesis of the chased Madonna in copper, for which Bedford won the  Jacques Cartier Memorial Award at the age of 32. The techniques, processes, creative interpretation, and degree of difficulty mastered in this piece inspired much wonder in the expert judges who poured over the Madonna in the 1979 Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council competition. Bedford himself said “(it is) that sort of work you get so engrossed in. “It all evolved so gradually, you get totally lost in it, and things happen… you almost look at it afterwards and think, how did that happen? “

When asked how he felt winning such a prestigious award, Bedford humbly recounts that he was just glad that it had been appreciated, and that somebody thought it was good - a sentiment which many designers and craftspeople will likely relate to. 

Astonishingly, four decades later, in 2019, Bedford won his second Cartier Award for the Chased Headinspired by Auguste Rodin’s Burghers of Calais. Reflecting on his craft, Bedford expressed, "To work in precious metal is a privilege – working in silver and to be creative with it is such a blessing. I’ve loved every minute of it." 

Beyond his personal achievements and tenures at Naylor Brothers, Asprey & Garrard, Bedford has been a stalwart and long-term supporter of the craft and industry. His extensive teaching and advisory roles, including serving as a Member and Chairman of the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council, and member of the Goldsmiths’ Company Craft and Industry Committee, have solidified his status as a pillar and icon of the silversmithing community. His sound and invaluable advice, tutoring and encouragement to craftspeople of all ages and backgrounds across the industry and education comes directly from personal experience as a young, hungry, and ambitious silversmith. Entering competitions every year, forging connections, and making a name for himself: “put yourself out there, seek connections, and be bold in seeking opportunities.” A master craftsman whose passion, talent, skill and generosity have contributed so much the craft of silversmithing, leaving an enduring impact on the generations that follow.