Young Designer Silver Rhino Pendant

This striking new jewellery design created by a young Scottish student was officially unveiled at Edinburgh Zoo, marking Endangered Species Day and the launch of the exclusive pendant for public sale.

Scott Bannister, an S2 pupil at Eastwood High School, was named the winner of the National Secondary Schools Jewellery Design Competition, run annually by the Craft & Design department at City of Glasgow College. His thought-provoking design – a rhino delicately balanced on its own horn – powerfully symbolises the fragility of the species and the existential threats it faces due to poaching and habitat loss.

Scott’s winning piece was selected from more than 800 entries submitted by secondary school pupils across Scotland. The judging panel included Sandra Gunn, Chair of Craft Scotland and Trustee of the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council, alongside leading jewellers Maeve Gillies and Ebba Goring.

Scott, accompanied by his family, teacher, and representatives from City of Glasgow College, presented this pendant to the Zoo during a special visit.

The design was brought to life using CAD technology and cast in AgAIN Silver – a sustainable material reclaimed from discarded NHS X-rays – by VIPA Designs Ltd. This pendant is now available to purchase with all proceeds supporting the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and its vital conservation efforts.