JEWELLERY

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Holly was born in the New Forest, Hampshire, in 1975. Growing up in an area of outstanding natural beauty and also living very close to the south coast, gave Holly an innate appreciation for organic forms and natural aesthetics, which is still apparent in her jewellery today.

Holly began creating jewellery in her early teens and by fifteen she was already selling her jewellery to an enthusiastic base of returning customers.

After leaving school Holly went on to study Art to Degree level.

Throughout her life though, jewellery making has remained a constant and persistent passion and occupation. Holly has an extensive knowledge of semi-precious stones and also contemporary hand produced beads from around the world, which she puts to good use when creating new pieces of jewellery or “wearable works of art” as she likes to describe her creations. Holly has trained in and uses a variety of techniques including: beading, beating, wrapping, Peruvian wire work, weaving and Viking weave.

Bungalow Ceramics is the result of two years of library loans, bookshop finds and long evenings scribbling away in my sketch book. A passion project marrying history and design, I’ve developed a range of pieces showcasing classics from the 20th Century in jewellery format.

Combining a wide range of special ceramics techniques, the collection is brought to life with carefully sculpted earthenware and porcelain clay and a choice of glaze finish that reflects the design concept behind each piece.

Textile artist Liz Clay studied at Bath School of Art and Design in the late 90s. Since then her professional career has focused entirely on the felt making process and material research of wool, specifically working with high end fashion and innovating felt making techniques. Liz's influences are as diverse as the work she produces; experimental in her approach and nudging the boundaries of ancient craft towards new and unexpected directions in contemporary practice.

EllyMental Jewellery is the transformation of Elly's little illustrations into lovingly and meticulously hand-crafted pieces of jewellery. Elly is inspired by designs based on her own fervent interest in kitsch nostalgia, Victoriana and animals.

Entirely handmade by Elly in Cardiff, using good old fashioned scissors and glue throughout the process! Scissors and glue aside, her jewellery is made from recycled thai papers, brushed on resin (many coats) and recycled metal. In simple terms her creative process is: draw, draw some more, alter, add some words, paint, glue, layer metal, wrap paper and resin coat. 

I have always had a huge interest in art. I originally attended an enamelling course for five years at the Bristol School of Art and Design under the tutorship of Elizabeth Turrell. I also combined this with a silversmithing and jewellery making course.

I have been an active member of the Guild of Enamellers for many years, being a regional representative up to 2009. Attending the yearly conferences and meeting many like minded passionate enamellers, has helped broaden my interest.

Jodie Metcalfe is a jewellery designer and maker with an appreciation for the handcrafted. She creates handmade silver jewellery in her workshop in Scotland, UK.

Jodie has forever immersed herself in the natural world and pays particular attention to the endless textures and subtleties metals can hold. Whilst drawing on and working with materials that would otherwise decay, Jodie has developed an interest in techniques that emulates and directly translates the structure and form of the natural object. Her designs incorporate foraged finds cast into silver from their organic original, carefully collected from within the British Isles and further afield. Simplified botanical forms, reticulation and set stones also feature throughout her jewellery collections.

Based in Somerset, Vicki originally studied Geology at the University of Bristol , gaining a PhD in Volcanology. Perhaps inspired by geological materials, forms and structures, she began designing and making jewellery in 2017.

Vicki creates beautifully fluid sculptural forms from precious metal, and says of her work:

“My pieces are wearable sculptural forms characterised by simple lines and fluid curves, each individually handcrafted from silver using a mixture of contemporary techniques. Contrasting surface details include textural finishes and colouration by oxidation, or plating to accentuate and embellish”

Inspired by architecture and sculpture, Solange works using gold and silver, precious and semi-precious stones to make bold, abstract and minimalist jewellery. She uses traditional techniques to create contemporary designs. Her work often evolves in a structural approach, creating forms out of geometrical shapes; she is intrigued by the interplay of juxtaposing lines.

Solange has a great love of stones, fascinated by their colours, inclusions, their meaning and symbolism, specifically how their properties have been used throughout history and in religious rituals. She sources many of her stones personally during her travels abroad, working directly with stone cutters to get her unique shapes. She is largely self-taught but trained in several jewellery workshops since 1975 when she started her career as a jeweller.

I live and work on the Mendip Hills in Somerset, an area of outstanding natural beauty.  I love to explore, my travels taking me on adventures around the world, above and below ground and underwater. Geology and the natural world have always fascinated me, and wherever I am I like to be close to nature; observing wildlife, exploring mountains, forests, deserts, seas and caves.  These special places are my inspiration; my jewellery is designed to take you on a journey through rocks and crystals as you explore their wonderful shapes, textures and colours.