My interest in designing and making jewellery evolved from a love of sketching, painting and creating in childhood. This eventually led me to Bill Wilson, a wonderful teacher at the Edinburgh and Pentland Lapidary Society, to whom I am eternally indebted. It is with great sadness that I learned recently that Bill passed away at the beginning of winter 2010. He will be greatly missed by the many students he so kindly and generously taught.
On a trip to Florence, I was captivated by an Etruscan style gold ring. Eager to learn how the Etruscans granulated gold, I took a one-to-one course with Master Goldsmith Giovanni Corvaja in Italy. I continued with a further one-to-one course with him in metal weaving, where we made 22ct gold from alloys and drew it down into gold wire as fine as hair. This was then woven. During this course I also learned the Korean technique of Keum Bo and knew then that I wanted to become a goldsmith. Giovanni is a generous, inspiring teacher and a very talented man.
Extensive travel has broadened my horizons and allowed me to experience the art of other cultures, which sometimes influence my jewellery. Inspiration also comes from the legacy of the Etruscans and the beauty of natural forms. I am passionate about making art jewellery and I'm fascinated by the tactile quality of gold and silver.
Associations
Association for Contemporary Jewellery
Craftscotland
Member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen - www.SocietyofDesignerCraftsmen.org.uk
Visual Arts Scotland