Jewellery design: where do ideas come from?

U-shaped brooch made from woven copper, silver and bronze

Ever since I started making jewellery, I’ve been drawn to experimentation. Colour and texture are the things that excite me; heating metal can bring out a rainbow of colours, and compressing it can create textures that mimic nature.

That’s always my starting point: what does the material suggest to me, and how can it be used to create something of beauty?

Mixing metals together offers unusual new colours and textures, sometimes almost like fabric. Pieces are created by twisting, weaving and plaiting various metals and then forming them into a cohesive sheet.

I don’t rush to create something with it. Often it will live in the studio for months as I wait for the right use for it. This brooch is made of copper, silver and bronze, with contrasting colours and tactile surfaces. If you would like something using this type of technique, then do drop me a message.