MAEVE GILLIES is a multi-award-winning artist and designer who grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, in a family of nationally-acclaimed writers, musicians, academics and politicians. Her mother is Valerie Gillies, one of Scotland's best loved poets. Her father is the renowned Celtic scholar William Gillies, Honorary Professor of Edinburgh and Harvard Universities. Her aunt is the acclaimed Gaelic singer Anne Lorne Gillies, and her great grandfather William Gillies was a founder of the Scottish National Party in 1920.
Inspired by this rich heritage and the spectacular Scottish landscape, Maeve demonstrated considerable artistic and musical ability from an early age. She was six times champion at Scotland's annual music awards, the National Mod, for her performance on the clarsach - the Scottish harp - one of the oldest instruments in Celtic history.
Maeve's passion for jewelry began by chance at age 15, when trying out goldsmithing with a jeweler friend. She went on to complete a traditional training, receiving two degrees in jewelry and silversmithing - firstly from the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, then a Masters' Degree from the prestigious Royal College of Art in London. After teaching and working across Europe, Australia and Asia in jewellery design, retail and production consultancy, Maeve spent three years as head of design for Domino in England. Domino are the largest Platinum jewelry manufacturer in Europe, supplying 35,000 rings to 5000 customers in 30 countries each year. Neill Swan of the UK Platinum Guild recognised Maeve's innovative contribution to the UK as having 'changed the look of the UK bridal market'.
Maeve went on to create and launch MaeVona, the award-winning New York City-based luxury brand supplying Maeve’s Celtic-inspired bridal jewellery to high-end retailers across North America. MaeVona quickly gained international acclaim, with a dedicated customer following for Maeve's market-leading, innovative bridal designs.
Maeve has received numerous awards for her jewellery, including three from the Royal Society for the Arts in London, four from the American JCK Jewelers Choice Awards, plus the prestigious Town & Country COUTURE Award in Las Vegas, USA.
In 2010, Maeve was invited to collaborate with Highland Park Distillery in Orkney, Scotland, to create a Limited Edition bottle for their 50yo whisky. This was launched in Harrods, London to instant international acclaim, and in March 2012 it received the prestigious double title of WORLD'S TOP DESIGN and BEST LIMITED EDITION at the inaugural World Whiskies Design Awards in London.
In 2011, Maeve assisted Macallan Distillery on an exclusive Lalique bottling for their 60yo whisky, creating a heritage metal copper top utilizing reclaimed copper from decommissioned Macallan stills. In 2014, Maeve created a one-of-a-kind whisky bottle in collboration with Dr Bill Lumsden of Ardbeg and renowned whisky expert Charles MacLean, to be sold at auction to benefit St Columba's Hospice. The bottle was inspired by the isle of Iona where St Columba lived, and was made in solid sterling silver with Iona marble inserts. It sold for £27,000 to a private collector.
As an experienced businesswoman, Maeve is also a member of the prestigious GlobalScot network, a group of international business ambassadors for Scotland appointed by the Scottish Government to advise Scottish companies on global growth and success. Maeve's passion to combine commercial success with creative originality continues in exciting new projects and collaborations, with heirloom quality craftsmanship and Celtic heritage at the heart.
Inspired by this rich heritage and the spectacular Scottish landscape, Maeve demonstrated considerable artistic and musical ability from an early age. She was six times champion at Scotland's annual music awards, the National Mod, for her performance on the clarsach - the Scottish harp - one of the oldest instruments in Celtic history.
Maeve's passion for jewelry began by chance at age 15, when trying out goldsmithing with a jeweler friend. She went on to complete a traditional training, receiving two degrees in jewelry and silversmithing - firstly from the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, then a Masters' Degree from the prestigious Royal College of Art in London. After teaching and working across Europe, Australia and Asia in jewellery design, retail and production consultancy, Maeve spent three years as head of design for Domino in England. Domino are the largest Platinum jewelry manufacturer in Europe, supplying 35,000 rings to 5000 customers in 30 countries each year. Neill Swan of the UK Platinum Guild recognised Maeve's innovative contribution to the UK as having 'changed the look of the UK bridal market'.
Maeve went on to create and launch MaeVona, the award-winning New York City-based luxury brand supplying Maeve’s Celtic-inspired bridal jewellery to high-end retailers across North America. MaeVona quickly gained international acclaim, with a dedicated customer following for Maeve's market-leading, innovative bridal designs.
Maeve has received numerous awards for her jewellery, including three from the Royal Society for the Arts in London, four from the American JCK Jewelers Choice Awards, plus the prestigious Town & Country COUTURE Award in Las Vegas, USA.
In 2010, Maeve was invited to collaborate with Highland Park Distillery in Orkney, Scotland, to create a Limited Edition bottle for their 50yo whisky. This was launched in Harrods, London to instant international acclaim, and in March 2012 it received the prestigious double title of WORLD'S TOP DESIGN and BEST LIMITED EDITION at the inaugural World Whiskies Design Awards in London.
In 2011, Maeve assisted Macallan Distillery on an exclusive Lalique bottling for their 60yo whisky, creating a heritage metal copper top utilizing reclaimed copper from decommissioned Macallan stills. In 2014, Maeve created a one-of-a-kind whisky bottle in collboration with Dr Bill Lumsden of Ardbeg and renowned whisky expert Charles MacLean, to be sold at auction to benefit St Columba's Hospice. The bottle was inspired by the isle of Iona where St Columba lived, and was made in solid sterling silver with Iona marble inserts. It sold for £27,000 to a private collector.
As an experienced businesswoman, Maeve is also a member of the prestigious GlobalScot network, a group of international business ambassadors for Scotland appointed by the Scottish Government to advise Scottish companies on global growth and success. Maeve's passion to combine commercial success with creative originality continues in exciting new projects and collaborations, with heirloom quality craftsmanship and Celtic heritage at the heart.