Jenna - managing Director
Jenna Webster’s jewellery journey began at Cardonald College, where she studied from 2010 to 2013 and gained an HND in Jewellery and Metalwork. She then progressed directly into second year at DJCAD in Dundee, graduating in 2016 with a first-class honours degree.
Following university, Jenna spent a year developing her skills in a Glasgow high street workshop before moving to Edinburgh to undertake a prestigious two-year apprenticeship at Hamilton & Inches on George Street. She went on to spend six years there, working across high-end bespoke commissions, repairs and remounts, and contributing to designed collections, while also taking on responsibility for estimates and workshop administration.
Jenna joined Vanilla Ink in early 2024, and now as Managing Director works closely with Scott and Sooz, leading her team of Amy and the current crop of jewellers in Residence. An exceptionally skilled goldsmith with a calm, confident approach, she brings a depth of technical knowledge and professional experience to the team. We’re delighted to have her playing such a central role in the day-to-day life and future of Vanilla Ink.
Sooz - finance director
With over 20 years’ experience in finance, Sooz has built a career spanning the corporate and third sectors. Her background includes senior roles across manufacturing, shipping, and property, where she progressed into leadership, managing teams responsible for full finance functions. She later made the move into the charity sector, running finance operations solo for organisations working in mental health and heritage.
In 2025, Sooz stepped into the role of Finance Director at Vanilla Ink, overseeing the organisation’s finances while working closely with Scott and Jenna to support strategic growth and long-term sustainability.
Away from spreadsheets, Sooz also runs her own jewellery practice. She first walked through the doors of Vanilla Ink in 2020 for a Level One class and, by her own admission, never really left. Since then, she has progressed through multiple levels and professional classes, including stone setting, and was a member of the 2024 INKubator Programme.
For Sooz, the strong sense of community at Vanilla Ink, combined with the support and values of the team, made saying yes to joining the board as Finance Director an easy and natural decision.
SCOTT - CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Scott McIntyre is a Founding Director of Vanilla Ink CIC, where he leads commissions, shapes class content, and delivers the INKubator Programme. With over 30 years in the jewellery industry, his depth of knowledge, practical expertise, and long-term vision sit at the heart of everything Vanilla Ink does.
Scott’s journey into jewellery began at seventeen, training with one of Glasgow’s leading jewellers. Driven by curiosity and a desire to continually refine his craft, he went on to build a career across Scotland’s central belt, developing advanced technical skills while pushing creative and professional boundaries.
Equally committed to craftsmanship and community, Scott has created an inclusive, supportive environment where makers can learn, collaborate, and grow. Under his leadership, Vanilla Ink has evolved into a thriving creative hub, empowering jewellers at all stages to develop their skills, confidence, and sustainable careers. A strong advocate for traditional goldsmithing, Scott encourages the next generation to challenge themselves while remaining rooted in strong craft foundations.
Diagnosed as autistic in adulthood, Scott is open about his mental health journey and uses his lived experience to support others navigating similar challenges. This openness helps foster a culture of empathy, understanding, and resilience within Vanilla Ink and the wider jewellery community.
amy - workshop co-ordinator
Amy first joined the Vanilla Ink team as a summer intern in 2021 while studying for her BA in Jewellery & Metal Design at DJCAD. After being awarded the William Sangster Phillips Grant, she went on to further develop her interdisciplinary practice through an MFA in Art, Science and Visual Thinking.
As one of our 2024 INKers, Amy continued to hone her skills to a high professional standard, deepening both her technical confidence and creative voice. Alongside her own jewellery practice, Amy works part-time behind the scenes at Vanilla Ink and freelances as a stonesetter and photographer, balancing multiple creative roles with ease and intent.
Her jewellery practice centres on creating bespoke pieces that support mental wellbeing. Rather than producing generic designs, Amy works closely with clients to create jewellery inspired by their personal “happy place” a location or space that brings comfort and calm. These subtle, private pieces act as tactile reminders of that connection, supporting mindfulness and holistic wellbeing wherever life takes them.
rebecca shaw - jeweller in residence
Becka brings an almost comically eclectic background to her jewellery practice. She holds an Honours degree in Psychology, alongside qualifications in mental health nursing, computer programming, and makeup with a specialism in special effects. She is also a qualified pharmacy dispenser, having spent 19 years working in some of Scotland’s busiest community pharmacies within high-pressure, patient-focused environments. Outside of work, Becka is a circus artist with a particular love of static trapeze, a sometime pole dancer, and a Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner.
In 2013, her long-standing love of alternative fashion and jewellery led her towards what would become one of her true passions. What began as another hobby soon evolved into Aperture Arts, born from the realisation that the stretched ear jewellery she wanted simply didn’t exist unless she made it herself. Becka began creating custom plugs using an unconventional mix of materials, from fossils and repurposed clock gears to circuit boards and dehydrated mushrooms. Initially deeply personal, Aperture Arts grew into a successful business, with over 8,000 sales to date.
After being gifted a Level One class at Vanilla Ink Jewellery School CIC, Becka’s curiosity expanded into more traditional jewellery materials and techniques. That first class sparked a desire to deepen her skills, leading to several years of study and, ultimately, becoming a 2025 INKer. Completing the INKubator programme and exhibiting her work for the first time, Becka now returns to Vanilla Ink as a Jeweller in Residence, excited to continue developing her practice.
Mags thomson
Mags began her creative career as a graphic designer before retraining in jewellery design and silversmithing in Glasgow, graduating in 2016. Drawing strongly on her design roots, she creates jewellery collections inspired by mid-century aesthetics, particularly 1950s and 1960s architecture, textiles, and furniture design. Her work is characterised by bold geometric forms, strong visual balance, and richly tactile surfaces.
Initially working from home and largely in isolation, Mags reached a crossroads familiar to many independent makers: either step away from her practice entirely or seek out a creative community. Thankfully, she chose the latter, joining Vanilla Ink in March 2024, where the welcoming, supportive environment quickly became a vital source of inspiration and momentum.
Immersed in the shared studio setting, Mags found renewed confidence in her practice and a strong sense of belonging within the jewellery community. She completed the INKubator Programme in 2025, further developing her technical skills, professional focus, and creative direction.
Now a Jeweller in Residence, Mags is proud to give something back to the community that has supported and encouraged her growth. Her residency marks the next stage in a practice shaped by design thinking, material curiosity, and the power of creative connection.
charis carroll
Charis is the youngest member of the Vanilla Ink team, first discovering the studio in 2022 after being gifted a place on the Sea Glass Pendant class. She returned the following year as a summer intern and quickly became a familiar face and, much like a stray cat who wandered in, never quite left!
During her time at Vanilla Ink, Charis developed a deep passion for jewellery, learning through hands-on making and from the generous, supportive creative community around her. In 2025, she was delighted to be selected as an INKer in Residence, where she continued to build her technical skills through the Programme’s classes and shared studio environment.
Following the INKubator, Charis joined the VI tutor team, balancing teaching with ongoing learning and studio practice. She brings a thoughtful, patient approach to tutoring, shaped by her own journey through the school and a genuine enthusiasm for sharing skills with others.
Alongside her role here, Charis is developing her own jewellery brand, creating work inspired by light, movement, waves, and the natural environment. Outside the studio, she is also a competitive ice dancer and qualified skate coach, designing and making her own figure skating dresses. Across both disciplines, her work reflects a love of precision, movement, and making by hand that runs through everything she does.