ABOUT
CITY & GUILDS SILVER JEWELLERY (Distinction)
BA (HON) FASHION DESIGN
Before studying jewellery design, I studied art and ceramics and went on to complete a BA (HONS) degree in Fashion Design. I worked in the mass production clothing industry after graduating, adding knitwear designer to my portfolio before launching my own clothing label in 2005.
As much as I loved Fashion design and production I always felt deep down I may have not chosen the right path. I went through a period of experimenting with other subjects and trying lots of different mediums in my own time and attended a few classes at Westhope Craft College. While there I found they had a Silver Jewellery taster weekend. I have always had a love of jewellery with my mother and other members of my family buying pieces of jewellery for me from an early age. Each and every piece is special to me and reminds me of the person that gave it to me. I always used to look at my jewellery and wonder how it was made.
When I spotted the weekend taster course in Silver Jewellery I thought why not and booked it. Attending that weekend taster course led me to discover silver jewellery was my true passion and what I should have been doing from day one. I made several pieces during that weekend for both myself and one I gave as a gift to my mother which she still wears now. I loved the subject so much I booked onto their City & Guilds course which I did alongside working full time. I put every spare moment I had into it and I gained a Distinction and won both college awards during my two years study of the subject.
People would notice the jewellery I was wearing which I had made and began asking if I could make items for them or if I had an online shop they could look at my work and buy from so I started making small batches of designs and tested out selling on different online marketplaces. After success selling online I built my own ecommerce website.
I design and handcraft my jewellery to the highest possible standards from my studio workshop on the Welsh/Shropshire border. My work is highly decorative, bold, individual and stylish. I use 925 sterling silver and genuine gemstones in my work. I love buying and collecting gemstones and pearls to use in my designs and use reputable suppliers which ethically source their products.
My influences come from textures and shapes in nature. I find inspiration in everything from woodland walks to visits to the Welsh coast always accompanied by my Border Collie dog.
I consider myself a perfectionist and will work on a piece for many hours until it is complete and I am fully satisfied with the final look. I treat each item as a piece of wearable art.
I consider an item of jewellery to be a very personal thing, something that can hold fond memories to the person that owns it and last a lifetime and beyond if cared for correctly. I love to get feedback from my customers and hear the stories behind their purchase, who they have bought the item for and why. It's fantastic to hear how much a person loves their item of jewellery.
It has always been my dream to have my own business designing and making in my own little workshop with my dog for company every day. Each and every sale helps turn that dream into a reality and helps me spend as much time as possible with my four legged best friend. One day we hope to move the workshop to the Welsh coast so we can go for Beach walks every day.
