Hector Miller

Hector Miller: born 1945 West Sussex. Local art school in Worthing then at Hornsey College of Art where he studied three dimensional design. While at the Royal College of Art (1965-68) under Robert Goodden he won a competition to design and make a pair of ceremonial batons for the Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh. MDes 1971. Joined the Clerkenwell workshop of Stuart Devlin where he was a designer/manager for 3 years - notable commissions he designed at this time and made in the Devlin workshop were a dinner service for the Shah of Iran (1974), a gold cup for the EEC and the York Minister goblet, the first of a long series of commemorative projects for English Cathedrals. (See separate Category: AURUM) He was also responsible for the manufacture of the cruet designed and engraved by Malcolm Appleby for The Silver Trust. Set up his own company in 1974 and in 1975 bought the 62 Rochester Place workshop of Leslie Durbin on his retirement and he employed 15 craftsmen and still works from the same address. Made a Liveryman of the Goldsmith's Company in 1986 and held exhibitions there from 1968. In 1993 was commissioned by the Hall to produce 3 cruets for the top table at Court luncheons in the Hall and 2 salvers for Downing Street. He became a member of the Company's Modern Collection Committee and was elected a member of the Court of Assistants in 2000 in recognition of his service to the craft and Prime Warden in 2011. He also produced a Freedom Pen Stand for the Hall that was the first piece of silver to be struck with the Millennium hallmark at the London Assay Office.