St Leger Commission

Jen hand-pierces her silver designs using the finest of saw blades, allowing her to create exceptionally intricate silverware. For the central section of the 250th Anniversary Doncaster St Leger Trophy, she sought to produce a design that was unmistakably her own, reflecting the distinctive style: exquisitely detailed silver skylines and narrative scenes.

Alongside showcasing her signature style, Jen wanted the design to celebrate the heritage of the St Leger and the city of Doncaster, host of this world-famous race with a City scape of Doncaster in the back ground and at the forefront of the design is a dramatic finish-line scene, depicting two horses racing neck and neck to capture the excitement, energy and atmosphere of race day. Fine details, such as the flowing saddle cloths, create a sense of movement and speed, conveying the power and grace of the thoroughbreds. Incorporated within the design are the dates 1776–2026, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the St Leger.

The entire composition is framed within the outline of a Yorkshire rose, celebrating both Yorkshire’s identity and the race’s enduring heritage. The rose also creates a visual connection between the removable silver centrepiece and the larger trophy, allowing the central design to stand as a complete artwork in its own right while harmonising perfectly with the overall trophy.

“I was honoured to be asked by Chris Knight to design and create the centrepiece for the 250th Anniversary St Leger Trophy. It was an incredibly prestigious commission, but one that held personal significance too. Having always had a great love of horses, creating this piece was something I had aspired to throughout my career as a silversmith. Working alongside Chris Knight was a really rewarding experience; being able to exchange ideas and develop the design together really pushed my creativity further than I expected.”

Jen’s final design drawing became the template for the finished piece. Every intricate detail was then hand-pierced from silver sheet and layers together, preserving the expressive quality of her original illustration.