Meet the Winner – Jane Murtagh

Jane Murtagh pictured at the 2026 Collect exhibition at Somerset House, London.

Jane Murtagh is an artist and metalsmith. Her intention is to move towards a visual narrative that can be expressed through the forging, etching and patination of non-ferrous metals. She enjoys exploring the equilibrium between ethnobotany, music notation and the written word.

Jane Murtagh lives in the countryside, on a farm surrounded by woodland, with low-lying fields edging the Shannon and deep drains cutting through them like thickly drawn charcoal sketch marks. Her studio is housed in a converted eighteenth-century farm building. At its centre is a square beech bench, with another beech bench alongside it. Her hand tools and the repoussé tools she made as a student are scattered across these benches, alongside a blacksmith’s leg vice, two anvils and various silversmithing stakes collected over the years.

A long table runs along the back wall, where she draws and works out ideas. Found objects lie about, waiting to find their way into her work: moss, lichen, birds’ nests, withered apples and leaves. Nature is forever sneaking in through the door and gaps in the stonework – duck feathers, the cat, the dog, dried leaves, bad weather and good weather.

For Murtagh, it is impossible to escape the influence of nature – and perhaps she does not want to. It is challenging and relentless, but ultimately gives a rewarding edge to her practice, bringing life and work together.

Learn more about Jane’s award-winning proposal

The Potential for Wood Particles to be used in the Colouring and Patination of Metal

The colouring of metal by patination has been used by artists and craftspeople since decorative and craft metalwork began. Aside from heat, most of the colouring processes have required the use of noxious chemicals. Toxicity and other hazards has led to many of these chemicals no longer being available. In turn this has led to a huge reduction in the palette over the last 30 years and incomparable to that of 100 years ago.

Aims and Objectives

Jane intends to develop a better understanding of the potential to use woods that are available in Ireland for colouring and patination of metal.

• Identify the wood species best suited to the process.
• Characterise the individual wood species and the effects that can be produced on test scale pieces.
• Characterise the change in ‘effectiveness’ of the particulates after processing.
• Explore methods for storing particulates:
  • Conventional Freezing.
  • Low cost and readily available inert gases such as Nitrogen and Argon (these are used in many metalsmith workshops).
• Taking ‘best’ examples from 2 above. Apply process to work scale test pieces and evaluate for adhesion, UV stability, reaction to protective finishes such as renaissance wax, lacquers etc.

Award Funding

As the 2026 David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award winner, Jane Murtagh receives €5,000. Each of the five shortlisted makers will also receive €2,000 in project support funding, bringing the total support to €15,000.

Congratulations to Jane Murtagh, winner of the DCCI David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award 2026, and to all of this year’s finalists. The 2026 finalists reflect exceptional skill, creativity and dedication to craft, celebrating the enduring legacy of David Shaw-Smith and the richness of Ireland’s craft tradition.