Profile
Cara received a First Class Honours in Silversmithing and Jewellery from Glasgow School of Art in 1992, and completed an MA in Silversmithing at the Royal College of Art, London, in 1994.In 1994 she returned to Northern Ireland and established her silversmithing business. She shares her workshop with her father, Michael McCrory. She has recently completed ‘Silver Connections’ (www.silver-connections.org) a major Crafts Council of Ireland Touring Exhibition showcasing new work of herself and her parents.
Cara’s award winning silver tableware has been showcased in numerous major international exhibitions and collections. During her career Cara has also created numerous high profile awards, which have been presented by prominent dignitaries.
Cara divides her time between her silversmithing practice and teaching as an Associate Lecturer in MA Applied Arts and BA (Hons) Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Ulster, Belfast.
Cara is a selected member of the Association of Designer Silversmiths and has her work selected for the crafts Council of Ireland Portfolio CD.
Awards
• 2006 Selected for Portfolio, Crafts Council of Ireland• 2005 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Individual Arts Award
• 2004 / 2005 Research Leave from the University of Ulster
• 2003 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Individual Arts Award
• 2002 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Individual Arts Award
• 1997 Winner of the Kilkenny Beer ‘Cream of Irish Awards', Craft and Design Section
• 1996 Arts Council of Northern Ireland Creative Arts Award
• 1994 Present – Continued Annual Support from the University of Ulster School Research Committee
• 1994 Awarded the Crafts Council of Ireland Quality Mark
• 1994 Selfridge Prize, Highly Commended, Royal College of Art
• 1993 1994 – Precious Metal Bursary, Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London
• 1993 Eurocraft participant Copenhagen / Belfast
• 1992 Winner of Cutlery Design Award, Royal College of Art
• 1992 Richard Hubbard Arroll Memorial Prize, Glasgow School of Art
• 1992 Winner of the British Stainless Steel Student Design Awards
Exhibitions
Cara’s work has featured in numerous exhibitions worldwide including: ‘Silver Connections’, Ireland, ‘Looking: Over My Shoulder’, Lesley Craze Gallery, London; ‘Cara Murphy’, a solo exhibition in the Barbican, London; and ‘New Work’, a solo exhibition in Roger Bilcliffe Gallery, Glasgow.Her new work recently toured Ireland as part of the Crafts Council of Ireland exhibition ‘Silver Connections’.