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Back to Nature

The main talking point for jewellery 2020? Sustainable fashion. From necklaces, rings, bracelets to ear cuffs, the use of humble materials were leading the way to align with the world's movement towards a sustainable future. As more and more consumers become aware of the effects of over-reliance on fast fashion, the more tuned in designers are becoming on the importance of embedding sustainable fashion materials throughout their designs. One way designers are playing with sustainable design is simply doing more with less! Infusing creativity with resourcefulness will see many-a collections tuning down the extra details and refined features and simply utilising

Bernhard Schobinger: After Nature

Bernhard Schobinger: After Nature "So, when the optic nerve tears, in the still of the air all turns as white as the snow of the Alps". - W.G Sebald "After Nature", 1988 In figurative art, to paint after nature is the opposite of “imitating art”, with its idealization of reality. The works in this exhibition of recent jewellery by Bernhard Schobinger evince the natural world through a communality of means; rather than “imitating nature” they assimilate the human creative process to that of nature, with its perfect, sophisticated and senseless accidents. The contrast between the polished angular surfaces and rough

The Nature of Silver exhibition at Goldsmiths' Fair

The Nature of Silver exhibition at Goldsmiths' Fair Exhibition of silver treasures from the Goldsmiths’ Company Collection puts the spotlight on innovative historic and contemporary silver inspired by nature. The annual Goldsmith’s Fair is the premier selling exhibition for the latest in fine jewellery and contemporary silver from the best goldsmiths and silversmiths across the UK. This year, Dora Thornton, Curator of the Goldsmiths’ Company Collection, has delved into the collection to create a fascinating special exhibition of rarely seen historic and contemporary silver inspired by nature. These unique treasures (not for sale) share organic and natural origins and challenge

Meet the Maker - From nature to artifice in Art Jewellery

Hortus Conclusus - Donna Brennan Contemporary Applied Arts Working with stones, minerals, gold and silver, my work explores the dichotomy between nature and artifice… transporting stones and minerals from the realm of nature into the realm of culture. Donna Brennan is a fine art jeweller who has adopted a cross-disciplinary approach to photography and sculptural jewellery, crafting a narrative from image to object which blurs the dichotomy between fine art and applied art. Derived from the Latin term for ‘enclosed garden’, Hortus Conclusus is a series of wearable sculptural art pieces, crafted from a mélange of minerals, stones, gold, bronze

Jewellery fashion will be futuristic, multi-cultural and celebrate the power of nature in SS/20, says IJL

International Jewellery London reveals 6 jewellery trends for SS/20 IJL trends editors and jewellery expert, Paola De Luca, has outlined six key jewellery trend themes for Spring-Summer 2020 for International Jewellery London (IJL), the UK’s leading trade event for the international jewellery industry. Her vision includes authentic designs that subvert deep-rooted stereotypes with gender, touches on societal pressure with minimalism and brings to life an organic amalgamation of nineteenth century deco with nature; all the while toying with abstract shapes, futuristic expression and dark jewels. These will be showcased on IJL’s SS20 Trends Catwalk where Paola will present her detailed

Amazonian Rainforests campaign launched at London Fashion Week 2018

Miranda Richardson, The United Nations and the Whitley Fund for Nature Join Fashion for Conservation on a Mission to Protect the Amazon at London Fashion Week AW18. Presented by Fashion for Conservation, The United Nations, Fashion Scout, Magpies & Peacocks, Hoja Nueva and the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), Fashion for Conservation (FFC) debuted their newest campaign to protect the Amazon featuring two designers' interpretation of Amazonian rainforests, keynotes by conservation leaders and support from the fashion community, Partnered with Whitley Fund for Nature, Fashion for Conservation has engaged influential members of the fashion community to become advocates for grassroots

Introducing 'Living Coral' Pantone's Colour of the Year 2019

Colour-giant, Pantone, have proclaimed ‘Living Coral’ the colour of the year for 2019. With each passing year, it seems that Pantone’s influence becomes increasingly ubiquitous; permeating all aspects of marketing, design and culture. Here, Benchpeg puts together a guide to the colour, its meaning and possible colour combinations to equip you with what you need to know as a jeweller. The inspiration ‘Living coral’ prescribes a return to nature in a world more and more engulfed and shaped by technology. Pantone say: “Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral emits the desired, familiar and energizing aspects of colour found in nature. In its

Hortus Conclusus - Donna Brennan

Isabella Liu showcases new collection 'The Butterfly Lovers' at t IJL 2019

Following the very successful launch of Isabella Liu’s new nature inspired collection, The Butterfly Lovers at the CMJ summer event, the award-winning International jewellery designer and artist will be unveiling new additional pieces at IJL 2019. The collection which pays homage to the beauty of Nature, draws on the classic Chinese legend of two lovers, Liang Shanbo (梁山伯) and Zhu Yingtai (祝英台), the Chinese Romeo and Juliet. In this the tale ‘The lovers’ spirits, in the form of a pair of butterflies, fly away together, never to be separated again’. This epic story has inspired musicians, artists and performers. Isabella

A pure white avant-garde ceramic jewelry by Raluca Buzura

Raluca Buzura found herself dialoguing with ceramic while expressing her visual interpretation of sculpting the nature writes Ilaria Ruggiero. She comes from the installation field and something very scenographic remains on her approach. The nature is her most important source of inspiration, as everything ranging in everyday life. Her work is a translation in porcelain of her personal experiences, trying to obliterate these traces during the process by simplifying the boundaries between real and abstract, in a swirl of textures and structures from which are foreseen flashes of gold. A mix of very different stylistic contributions merged together allows her to

Secret Garden Jewellery Box

A much-loved reference point for creative design and inspiration for interiors, tech to fashion and jewellery; it's hard not to pinpoint a designer who hasn't used the beautiful intricacies of nature to inspire a collection of artistry. Not only are their shapes, patterns, textures and sizes unique and different between creatures, plants, flora and fauna but so are the architectures around where they inhabit across the continent. To say there is a wealth of inspiration in nature would be an understatement! Beautiful incarnations of garden biodiversity are some of the most widely used within jewellery collections. Intricate, colourful and dainty floral

Playing with Pantone Colour of the Year: Living Coral

It's no new secret that this year's Pantone Colour of 2019 is full of warmth, nourishment and delicately captivating. Pantone 16-1546 Living Coral emits the gorgeously natural and energising found in nature and it seems that jewellery designers alike have been swayed by its mesmerising charm. Coral blushed pieces have been spotted amongst the Spring/Summer collections giving a nod towards the playful and expressive elements of nature. Laced into designs of under the seas inspired pieces, taking centre stage as a colourful juxtaposition to sleek metal fastenings and a beautiful compliment to the warm of rose gold, coral is the colour

Flavia Amadeu X :In-Residence

Flavia Amadeu X :In-Residence :IN-RESIDENCE are proud to host Brazilian jewellery designer Flavia Amadeu in store on Friday 20 April 2018 from 17:00 to 20:00 for an exclusive preview of her work prior to her participation in the V&As Fashioned from Nature exhibition which opens to the public on Saturday 21 April 2018. This is the first exhibition of its kind to explore the complex relationship between fashion and nature from 1600 to the present day. Flavia will be available to discuss her work and her passion for sustainability within the fashion industry. Flavia Amadeu is a Brazilian jewellery, fashion,

Introducing Lux of London: A New British Jewellery Label

A new British jewellery label creating multifunctional 3 in 1 jewellery pieces inspired by the luminosity and transient nature of the full moon. Set up by Hinna Azeem, who is the creative director at H.AZEEM London, Lux of London is all about jewellery that can transform and be worn in many different ways. Turn rings into pendants, pendants into bangles and seamlessly back again in a matter of seconds using simple mechanisms of clips, loops and slides. Just like transient nature and luminosity of the moon phases, every Lux lets the wearer change their look to suit their mood and

News Edit: 26 July 2020

As we find our 'new normal' here is a round up of last week's international jewellery news... The best high jewellery from Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Tatler: Paris's Couture Fashion Week isn't all about the decadent gowns, it's also the time prestigious jewellery designers present their dazzling high jewellery collections. Here is Tatler's Watch and Jewellery editor's selection of the finest pieces. tatler.com Cartier Unveils [Sur]naturel High Jewellery Collection Tatler: Cartier's new haute joaillerie collection taps into the limitless inspirational reserve of mother nature. The pieces, whilst embodying the spirit of nature, are highly stylised and exquisitely crafted

Public Art Commission for Abbotswood, Romsey

Public Art Commission for Abbotswood, Romsey Test Valley Borough Council wish to commission an interactive public art trail for the new community development of Abbotswood in Romsey. The art trail will enable residents of Abbotswood and Romsey to explore and enjoy their surroundings. It will uncover their own creativity and provide ideas and activities for the community to continually engage with it throughout the seasons. The trail should be innovative in design and be sympathetic to the environment surrounding Abbotswood which includes the Abbotswood Area for Nature Conservation and Fishlake Meadows wetlands. The full details of the commission and schedule

The Enchanting Return of Ebony

Prized for its heartwood and beautifully smooth finish on fine furniture and accessories, black Ebony is one of the most expensive and valuable types of wood found in the world. Like most wonders of nature, no two pieces of Ebony Blackwood are alike due to the difference in location and species of heartwood for it to thrive. With Black Ebony increasingly becoming a rarity in discovery, poaching of this fine material has greatly increased due to its value. The darker the wood, the more valuable the piece of Ebony becomes due to being classed as more "pure" and showcasing the

Dendritic Beauty: Still Life In A Stone

As autumn steps up a gear, nature explodes into a fiery mass of natural beauty with not only a sea of leaves amongst our feet but leaves falling into the trends cupboards of the design industry. Welcome to the world of dendritic stone. Within gemmology, agate is an umbrella term for a variety of banded Chalcedony; a mineral belonging to the Quartz family. Whilst not strictly classified as an agate as it is not banded, dendritic agate, also known as tree agate is itself a quartz, displaying a opaque and milky finish. Comparatively, dendritic quartz displays more of a shimmery

Cloudy - Mah Rana

Gallery S O is very pleased to announce a solo exhibition of new work by jewellery artist Mah Rana. The brooches on display are a visual and material exploration on the theme of clouds, and the transient nature of our moods and perceptions. The show will also include a film concerned with the personal connections to the jewellery we wear, edited by Andreea Bogdan. The film is part of a Meanings and Attachments commission by the Crafts Council for the Acts of Making Festival in 2015. Meanings and Attachments (2002- ongoing) is a worldwide series of public-participation events that so

H S Walsh & Sons present Elma Clean EC55 Ultrasonic Solution, proven to be effective against Covid 19

As the jewellery and watch trade looks to re-open to the public, H S Walsh are pleased to exclusively add Elma’s ultrasonic fluid Elma Clean EC55 – HF7055, proven to be effective against Coronavirus, to their range of cleaning solutions. With the Government go-ahead for non-essential retail to re-open from the 15 June, many businesses are making careful preparations to meet the guidelines for ensuring the safety of both staff and customers. One of the key areas to consider is the effective cleaning of retail stock or items for repair. Andrew Willgress, Walsh’s Chief Horological Buyer says: “Jewellery and watches, by their very nature have

Jewellery Illustration Workshop with Elena Shkvarkina

Jewellery Illustration Workshop with Elena Shkvarkina K2 Academy of Contemporary Jewellery 2-day Workshop 21-22 May 2022 This course is designed to challenge your creative thinking and enhance your jewellery practise with new artistic expression. About the course Palimpsest Ink Drawing is the art of superimposed ink layers. Elena Shkvarkina developed this technique searching for an art practice that would allow experimentation beyond traditional art aesthetics, and encourage self-expression regardless of skills or prior painting experience. Thanks to its experimental nature, Palimpsest Ink Drawing welcomes improvisation and miss-marking. The layered application creates a memoir of your drawing where you can

GSA Silversmithing and Jewellery students unveil lockdown collections

Final year Silversmithing & Jewellery graduating students at The Glasgow School of Art have unveiled collections conceived and made during lockdown in Graduate Showcase 2021. They are among over 500 graduating students from the acclaimed art school to be showing work on the specially-designed digital platform. For many of the young designers the time of isolation and their lockdown locations have created the starting point for the creative process, with re-engagement with nature emerging as a major theme Ellen Kynoch’s Intangible Mass explores themes of isolation, emotional decay, and the fragility of our minds during a long period of quarantine,

News Edit: 8th November 2020

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news... The powerful women behind Cartier’s most iconic symbol Harpers Bazaar: A new interactive exhibition at Harrods celebrates the glittering heritage of Cartier’s most famous emblem, and the pioneering woman who inspired it. harpersbazaar.com An ode to nature Bankock Post: Chopard translates its love for flora and fauna into a new range of high-jewellery creations for this year's Red Carpet collection. bangkokpost.com All the coolest Australian jewellery designers are now in one place Fashion Journal: I don’t know about you, but I find that buying jewellery online can be

News Edit: 21 November 2021

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news... Why Jewellery’s Diversity Problem Is So Hard to Fix BoF: The industry is reckoning with a lack of opportunities for Black designers. But change comes slow in a world where money and connections often determine who has access to precious stones. businessoffashion.com In Conversation With Taiwanese Jewelry Designer Anna Hu Forbes: New York-based, Taiwanese independent jewelry artist Anna Hu is leading the way in nature-inspired looks that speak of the preciousness of gemstones from the depths of the earth. forbes.com Royal Jeweller Garrard at centre of new Kensington

Gemfields brings to auction the Kafubu Cluster, a colossal 37,555-gram cluster of emeralds

Discovered at the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia in March 2020, the Kafubu Cluster is a colossal cluster of emeralds. Close inspection of the 37,555-gram (187,775 carat) cluster reveals that it contains very little matrix or other minerals, meaning the piece is almost entirely made up of emeralds, which, given its sheer size and formation, makes this a very rare find indeed. The Kafubu Cluster, our gentle giant, is a testament to the high-quality gemstones that can be produced when Mother Nature allows time for the various crystals to form deep within the Earth’s crust. Gemfields’ geologists describe the formation

This Autumn Yields Beautiful Garland Jewellery By Fiona McAlear

Fiona McAlear’s obsession with flowers as adornments - from Ceasaresque wreaths to the wild floral hair arrangements of the flower-children of the 1960’s - is apparent throughout her body of work, with previous collections named Ivy, Garland and Forget-Me-Not. Her newest release ‘Pomona’, the first mini-series within the wider ‘BLOOM’ collection, is no exception. Dwelling in British Columbia, Canada over the past two years cemented McAlear’s affection for the beauty in nature. The timely collection Pomona, the Roman Goddess of Orchards, fruits and Gardens, and is particularly associated with the Autumn harvest. McAlear acknowledges that the collection was named for

Installation VOID Showcases the Hidden Galaxies Within Gemfields' Gemstones

As part of London Design Festival, an installation seeks to venture into the depths of gemstones, showcasing the chasms inside and amplifying them to cavernous proportions. Designer Dan Tobin Smith and creative studio The Experience Machine, in partnership with Gemfields, present VOID; a multi-sensory spatial installation at Collins Music Hall, Islington. The immersive experience allows visitors to travel through a series of large-scale projections, exploiting the intricate beauty in nature. A selection of Mozambican rubies and Zambian emeralds from Gemfields’ mines, which date back millions of years, are brought to life through photography of tiny microcosms magnified. Expanding the gemstones

Veronika Fabian: The Political Jeweller

Veronika Fabian is not your average jeweller. Born in a colony of artists in small-town Hungary, she originally rejected her creative roots, opting for a career in finance. After studying at the University of Economic Sciences in Budapest, and successfully forging a career in banking, she missed the tactility of art. Now a multi-award-winning contemporary jeweller, her work can be described as “a rebellion against her past”. There’s not much that escapes the ubiquitous nature of politics, even jewellery. Veronika Fabian attributes her initial aversion from a career in the arts, in part to the post-communist state of her home-country,

New Designers 2019 sparkles with a strong focus on Jewellery

Last week, New Designers kicked off its celebration of new design talent; connecting fresh graduates with industry professionals across a plethora of creative fields. On a glorious sunny Wednesday, Benchpeg attended the Business Design Centre in London to get a sneak-peak at the fresh talent; and was extremely pleased to see such a strong jewellery presence at the event. New Designers prides itself on its progressive nature, stating “Great design never stands still, and should challenge the status quo. We champion new thinking, and new approaches to solving today’s problems through design. As society changes, so do New Designers.” This

Paolo Marcolongo: A dialogue between glass and metals

Paolo Marcolongo is an artist with a unique and multifaceted inspiration, and one of the significant representatives of the Scuola Orafa Padovana writes Ilaria Ruggiero. Paolo Marcolongo is an artist with a unique and multifaceted inspiration, and one of the significant representatives of the Scuola Orafa Padovana . In his jewellery all the complexities of the numerous sculptural, artistic, philosophical and aesthetic references that characterize his creative evolution find a compendium and perfect balance. Nature blossoms in both its sensuality and danger, on the one hand expressed by precious metals which are at times stinging, sharp, edgy, thorny, on the other

Oh I do like to be by the seaside!

Blazing sunshine, warm tropical breezes and a national shortage of fruity ciders on the supermarket shelves can only mean one thing...Britain has been hit with a wave of unusual summer weather! With temperatures rising to record highs, it's not just nature that is throwing it back to fonder days, old school jewellery has also made a welcome comeback for the second summer running. Last Spring, preteen jewellery of cowrie shells and pukka shell bracelets dominated the must-have list of accessories and this year, it's back - only bigger, better and juicier than ever! It appears that every designer has jumped

Beppe Kessler: Plenty of Nothing

The Galerie Rob Koudijs hosts a solo show by Beppe Kessler, as poetic as it is unique. In fact, in this latest work Beppe Kessler explores the so-called natural phenomenon spring snow, typical of Amsterdam, where the artist lives writes Ilaria Ruggiero. Through her language, she stages a wunderkammer in which the wonder of nature becomes art, and life turns into eternity. To a certain extent, the ancient Wunderkammer can be considered as the first stage of the development of the concept of museum. Historically, Naturalia and Artificialia have been those objects with particular or wonderful characteristics that have aroused

Welcome to The Spring Garden Party

What would Spring be without the excitement of fresh blooms and buds poking their heads through making our weekend walks vibrant and pretty? Well, it looks like this season, designers are taking the excitement of nature and putting it right at the very heart of their runway designs. Flowers of all shapes, sizes, colours and textures were in abundance across the runways, adorning the models like draped vines of wild garden bundles. From small, delicate and dainty blossom to bold and dramatic oversized fauna, there's a take on this spring garden trend to meet the style and personality of everyone.

Micro scenery and architectural influences

The urban landscape and the nature have always been inspiring for artists and creative minds. The surrounding as well as the atmosphere, sounds and shapes, are meant as muses also for those working in the micro-sculpture and jewelry field. With different styles and background Jill Herlands, Nicole Schuster, Martacarmela Sotelo and Zeta Tsermou work by constructing and merging precious and non-preciouses metals, by creating small masterpieces ranging from minimalism to the superstructure of architecture, and where the raw elegance of industrial and urban suggestions finds expression. Jill Herlands Photo Credit: Jill Herlands Jill Herlands is based in Hell’s Kitchen, New

Tweet 16th March - 22nd June 2019 The Craft Centre & Design Gallery, Leeds, West Yorkshire Makers inspired by the beauty of birds come together in this remarkable display of jewellery, ceramics, stone, wood and works in mixed media. Each maker translates their inspirations into unique handmade creations for you to own or admire. Jewellery Sally Ayling Sally’s jewellery is inspired by nature, in particular birds. The graphic images from field-guide books and wildlife illustrations, ordinance survey maps, charming old packaging, classic industrial design and many other bits and pieces Sally sees on her travels. Sally enjoys using unconventional materials

Catherine Hills 'takes over' Gill Wing

Gill Wing was the first gallery to show Catherine Hill’s distinctive jewellery, as a fresh graduate from the RCA, living locally in Islington. 20 years later, the gallery is allowing a 'take over' by the jeweller to celebrate their twenty year anniversary. Over the last twenty years Catherine Hills has won many awards for her nature inspired, textural treasures, as well as being famed as the chosen designer behind the jewellery for the box-office-breaking Harry Potter films. As one of Gill Wing Jewellery's original selected artists, Catherine has remained above fleeting trends with her unique and wearable designs, the epitome

Tresor Paris create the ‘Artisan Collection’

Tresor Paris celebrates the wonderful diverse nature of gemology with the unique Artisan collection, featuring slices of precious stones set in 18 carat gold for a contemporary take on traditional gem stones. Using breath-taking natural Ruby, Sapphire and sliced diamond stone cross-sections set in luxurious 18 carat yellow gold, every piece is truly individual. The contours of the outer shape of the gem are all different as are the naturally occurring inclusions inside each stone. Every piece is hand made using the gem stones as a starting point to craft a beautiful piece of jewellery around it. Salim Hasbani, Director

Jewels on the Pink Carpet- Who wore what to the 2019 Met Gala

The first Monday of May brought with it the illustrious and captivating Met Gala. The fashion world is still dealing with the fallout. We've collated some of the best jewellery looks of the occassion. The theme this year was camp, explored in more detail in the complimentary exhibition staged by the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum 'Camp: Notes on Fashion'. The exhibition explores how the sensibility, once marginalised, has now become a leading and important part of contemporary mainstream culture. “Camp’s disruptive nature and subversion of modern aesthetic values has often been trivialized, but this exhibition reveals that it

Sian Evans Second Aluminium collection, Pars Pro Toto, Crosses the Boundaries of Art, Design and Fashion

Sian Evans is an award-winning British Jewellery designer, living and working in London. Her new collection, Pars Pro Toto, was launched at Paris Fashion Week last year to wide acclaim. Sian’s love of archaeology, fashion, nature and technology; the history of tools and materials have informed her collections since she started her creative practice. Sian Evans Jewellery was first established in 1986, developing into an international label during the 1990s. Sian is a lapsed fossil collector, brought up on the Jurassic coast in Dorset where she studied Geology. She has created pieces which are reminiscent of microscopic fossils, diatoms and

Playful Elegance

Anne Manns has a special fondness for creating jewels to decorate the ears. Her earrings, inspired by nature and especially by vegetables such as peas and aubergines, are characterised by a very clean, bright and warm design, able to climb up the skin with a unique lightness and portability writes Ilaria Ruggiero. An elegant touch characterises her creations, that are developed for one of the most sensual and feminine parts of the body. Not only elegance and brightness, but also irony, playfulness and freshness. Using vegetables as a source of inspiration allows her to always maintain a language which is mobile, down-to-earth earth and everyday.

Chaumet’s new ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’

The maison’s latest pieces celebrate nature in all its forms writes Jodie Smith. The French maison was founded in 1780, in Paris, and its prestige was quickly certified when they became the official jeweller to Empress Josephine. In the 235 year history of the brand, Chaumet has been faithful to its natural inspiration, with numerous iterations of this theme. In this new series of pieces, Chaumet celebrates flora and fauna with a whole host of jewellery designs, including captivating brooches and cocktail rings which are perfect for occasionwear. These latest jewels vary wildly between the traditional, vintage style brooches of the

When digital meets craft: An open view by Chiara Scarpitti

Chiara Scarpitti is an Italian multidisciplinary artist and designer specializing in contemporary jewelry. Her research investigates different aspects of the contemporary material culture, exploring technology through a humanistic approach. She is one of the few designers able to perfectly synthesize the historical dimension of research, through the eyes of the present, projecting it directly to the future, thanks to the ability of balancing technique, narrative and vision. Through her work, the tradition finds a new identity, thanks to aesthetic and technical innovation. In Chiara’s pieces emerges, perfectly balanced, a collection of suggestions from different narrations and imaginaries. Nature, in its

Call for Freelancer and Self-Employed Participation, Creative Industries Federation

The Creative Industries Federation has launched a survey to examine the vital role sole traders and freelancers play in the UK’s creative industries, as part of intensive work on the Government's forthcoming industrial strategy. As you will know, sole-traders and freelance workers account for a huge proportion of the creative workforce, but the nature of their employment means they are routinely overlooked or misunderstood in policy-making. The Crafts Council is a member of the Federation and the survey will help both the Crafts Council and the Federation gather valuable information about self-employed creatives, investigating their working practices and how Government

Artist Residency, ArtsTaunton

ArtsTaunton is an organisation working to make Taunton a great place to live - somewhere where art and nature combine to make a town that has a unique identity. To achieve this aim ArtsTaunton has secured funding to support an artist to explore the enduring character of our town - its people and its landscape. In the coming years we want to support our creative sector and stimulate the appetite in people for brilliant and meaningful art. This residency is one of the first steps to help us find out what would be meaningful for Taunton’s citizens. The residency asks

Ishtar Liljefors' crowns shaped by cranes and Game of Thrones

If Ishtar Liljefors’ designs remind you of tiaras and rings worn in the American fantasy drama series Game of Thrones, it will come as no surprise to learn that not only does Ishtar take inspiration from her Scandinavian roots but her mum Maria is a costume designer who actually worked on the iconic television programme. It was photographs of her grandmother’s wedding day in Swedish Lapland and the bridal crown she was wearing that proved a trigger for Ishtar's early fascination with jewellery but in shaping her most recent collection, she turned to nature to add a new and unique

Dancing with Danger

Donald Duck and Tintin might struggle to compete with nature or music as mainstream sources of artistic inspiration but for Max Danger, comic strip characters have sparked a stream of ideas and helped shape a notable career. Comics were everywhere when Danger was growing up at home in Copenhagen, Denmark because his father worked as an illustrator. Danger followed the comic strips avidly rather than read books though he did make an exception for books about science, especially if they featured retro robots from the 1950s. Years later, those two influences continue to loom large in his work with illustrations forming

Dancing with Danger

Micro and Macro Inspired Jeweller Debuts at LFW

Macro and mirco inspired jeweller Ana Thompson will make her London Fashion Week debut this week with must-see collections of arresting fine jewellery for SS18. Housed within LFW’s Designer Showrooms, three intrepid collections Vortex, Sedna and Spin will embody Ana’s fascination with the macroscopic and microscopic worlds of nature, science and technology. With statement bangles, chokers, rings and cufflinks, the collections are a daring antidote to delicacy, and highlight the return of bold jewellery for SS18. Crafted in sterling silver, gold vermeil and precious 18ct gold, Ana Thompson Fine Jewellery combines skilful hand craftsmanship with cutting edge technological applications. The

Emerge Competition

Call for Applications: Emerge Competition Zealous set up Emerge in response to the changing nature of the UK’s relationship with Europe. The aim of the competition is to safeguard the creative industries and promote new generations of diverse creative talent from all backgrounds across the UK. Together, let's remind the world that the UK’s creative industries are best in class, worth supporting and open for business. The Competition 12 Emerge prize categories are open to all creative talent residing in the UK. All of the categories will be shortlisted to 15, from which industry judges will select the top 3

De Vroomen: Harmony in Colour and Form

De Vroomen: Harmony in Colour and Form The Goldsmiths’ Company is delighted to present De Vroomen: Harmony in Colour and Form, a celebration of five decades of artistic collaboration between renowned husband and wife team, Dutch goldsmith Leo de Vroomen and British jewellery designer and artist Ginnie de Vroomen. The showcase brings together over 100 pieces of De Vroomen jewels, sketches reflecting the creative process, as well as Ginnie’s vivid paintings inspired by nature and the urban landscape. In essence, bold, sophisticated jewellery with flowing lines is placed in conversation with polychromatic abstract art. When Leo and Ginnie started working together in the early 70s, they developed

Noordeman and Wright: Audiowear

Noordeman and Wright: Audiowear Sonic Arcade: Shaping Space with Sound is a multi-component exhibition featuring interactive installations, immersive environments, and performing objects that explore how the ephemeral and abstract nature of sound is made material. At a time when so much visual information is being dispatched, consumed, and digested, the auditory provides a compelling sensory experience that is capable of reorienting the body to consider spatial and interpersonal relationships anew. Comprised of linked solo and curated projects, Sonic Arcade explores sound as substance, framing it as interdependent material that is physically crafted and transmitted through electronic circuits and signals, radio

Dial Into Botanical Beauties of Time

With Spring well & truly sprung and scandalous summer getting ready to sashay onto the scene, it's time to work some bodacious blooms and fiery florals into your new season look. With Greenery hailed as the trans-seasonal Pantone colour of the year, this fresh and zesty hue of vitality has been dominating the trend forecasts and has now clocked onto our wrist-wear adornments. The beauty of nature is emblematic throughout this botanical theme in watchmaking with themes of escapism, urban revival and restorative wellbeing captured through the floral studded craftsmanship. Flora and fauna have blossomed their way into our Springtime-wrist

Urban Makers Eco Market

Call for Applications: Urban Makers Eco Market We will be back at the Ecology Pavilion Mile End Park this Spring on the weekend of April 21st and 22nd. April 22nd is Earth day and to celebrate we are curating the market with a green agenda. The 2018 theme is End Plastic Pollution so we would like to minimise all single use plastics as much as we can. We know by it’s very nature that handmade is sustainable so we would like to highlight and celebrate this. We will will not only be selecting makers based on their unique designs but

DRAKENBERG Introduces Birthstones

The Swedish jewellery brand DRAKENBERG creates timeless and minimalistic jewelleries inspired by the Nordic nature. This spring the designer duo wants to give the collection a new touch and are therefore presenting the new collection Birthstones. A collection of stones representing each month of the year. “We’ve been working on this collection for some time now and we feel so proud to finally launch it. It is exiting to try a new material and add some colour in a DRAKENBERG way, with a lot of thoughts behind it”, says Andrea Drakenberg Daléus, Creative Director at Drakenberg. Andrea Drakenberg and Ellen

BRON - Ruudt Peters

Bron - Ruudt Peters Retrospective A BRON (source) is a beginning, a starting point. Different ‘things’ are bubbling up and coming out of sources, both literally as well as figuratively. In SOURCE, the retrospective exhibition of Ruudt Peters, the sources of his work are the main focus. Peters shares in this exhibition not only his work, but also what inspires him at the deepest level. Alchemy, nature, the human body, beauty, the subconscious, intuition, spirituality and sexuality; everything has been a source of inspiration and was the beginning of a quest for Peters. His starting point is his curiosity in the

Stylish Aromatherapy at your fingertips

With a world focused on revolutionising health, wellbeing and lifestyle antidotes, it was only a matter of time before our strive for balanced health was intermingled with the jewels we wear. Carefully designed to enjoy the benefits of wellbeing remedies whilst still remaining sleek, chic and elegant, aromatherapy jewellery is taking the spotlight in innovative creativity. Niche Jewellery designers are tapping into the growing trend of therapeutic jewellery that combines the healing properties of gemstones and essential oils. It is thought that elements from nature can help realign our vibrational energies to help aid healing of health, chakras and energy

Shimell and Madden Launch new Film

An insight into the creative and craft process of Shimell and Madden, this video profile shows how the duo work together and develop their ideas. London based, they  create structural  gold pattern work that form distinctive fine jewellery pieces. Shimell and Madden occupy that space where craft, art and fashion intersect. High quality and hand-crafted, their jewellery explores themes of science, nature and time. Shimell and Madden | The Process | 2017 from Shimell and Madden on Vimeo . They have been creating jewellery in their London studio since 2010. Emma

Pandora’s Green Profile Soars

New environmental study shows that the impact on the environment can be reduced significantly when using recycled silver and gold as well as man-made stones. In order to further minimize the Company´s impact on the environment and meet consumers' expectations for ethical jewellery, Pandora focuses more on green production facilities. The recently released Pandora Ethics Report 2016 reveals a strong commitment to high ethical standards throughout the company´s value chain. A new and independent environmental study carried out for Pandora shows that the impact on nature can be reduced to less than 5 percent when using recycled gold and silver

The Uncivilised Creative

Bea Ramsay and Change in Nature have just launched The Uncivilised Creative - a four-day wilderness retreat for creative professionals looking for an inspiring and refreshing sabbatical to reconnect with their creative thread. This retreat is an antidote to the fast pace of modern life and the pressures of being a professional creative. It offers a precious chance to quieten busy heads and remember how it feels for the hours to pass like minutes, lost in creative flow. Who are Bea and ChangeinNature.org? As ‘Alex Ramsay’ Bea ran a successful silversmithing studio in London for 12 years – exhibiting her

Hayton Castle CIC - Cumbria

Artist in Residence Opportunity 3x Hayton Castle CIC - Cumbria Hayton Castle Fields CIC is looking for three artists-in-residence for an exciting recycling project in Cumbria. Hayton Castle Fields CIC works to benefit our local community by providing projects and events focusing on nature and creativity. Our ongoing work aims to bring people together to benefit our community, with a focus on young people in West Cumbria. We are currently working with West Cumbria Rivers Trust to remove decades of fly-tipped rubbish, including prams, bikes, TV’s, plastic buckets, you name it, from our woodland. Rather than send the rubbish to

Imperial Time Launches Amber Jewellery Online Shop

T aking inspiration from nature and culture, Imperial Time have launched their latest stunning collection of jewellery online. Using one of the most beautiful natural resources, amber, each piece is unique, full of character, and handcrafted by the family run business. Based in Poland and with a distribution centre in the USA, Imperial Time is taking advantage of one of its location’s most prized exports. The exquisite Baltic amber has been used by jewellers for years thanks to its alluring colour and reported healing properties. Now fans of the elegant look of amber can purchase a range of impressive,

Greenery: The Colour Set to Revive, Refresh, Renew

Welcome to the fresh and zesty world of Greenery15-0343, the Pantone colour blooming into 2017! Greenery is natures' authentic omnipresent hue of thriving; emblematic for vitality and the need to strip back to our organic state of being. After suffering a turbulent political and social upheaval throughout most of 2016, this yellow-green shade symbolises a need to reconnect to nature and a more grounded sense of purpose. In a world monopolised by social media and technology, 'Greenery' reminds us of noticing the real truth and beauty in the natural aesthetics around us; a sense of escapism from our materialistic society and

Benchpeg Award Winner: Design for Creativity, Innovation or Disruption

Benchpeg Awards 2016 Winner: Shuming Chen Monitoring in the Dark Collection This category invited entries which displayed design and or creativity in a disruptive manner to create a piece which is completely unique. Judges considered all the entries and favoured those which displayed thinking outside of the box – those entries which displayed the most unconventional jewellery design. In their selection the judges really wanted to question the very nature of the meaning of jewellery and how it could project the best representation of future British jewellery design. Shuming’s methodology of working attempts to combine daily life with the science technology

Mappin & Webb Launch Beau Han Xu Glasswear Collection

Mappin & Webb has announced a collaboration with award winning RCA graduate designer and artist Beau Han Xu. Drawing on nature and the ethereal, the London based designer captures and preserves inspirational moments in his creations, particularly the split second of beauty as a raindrop bursts with a splash. Continuing a silver and glassware tradition spanning more than 240 years, Mappin & Webb continues pioneering innovation with this latest, exclusive product collaboration. The Collection An exquisite collection of twelve elegant glass shapes has been created, including Red, White, Rosé, Martini, Cocktail, Whiskey, Cognac, Shot Glass and, of course, Champagne, with

Ruth Hollywood launches new lines at London Design Festival

Ruth Hollywood makes jewellery inspired by natural geometry. Synthesising 100% recycled silver and colourful hand-mixed resin, her work moves over the boundaries between science, nature and art. Ruth has received awards for Excellence in Design from The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, and was selected for the Crafts Council UK Hothouse programme in 2015. Her jewellery is stocked in a variety of shops and galleries across the world. She exhibits at trade shows regularly, and her work has been shown in London, Munich, Montreal and Sydney. The perfect microscopic patterns of atoms and crystals have found their way into Ruth’s newest

Trend Tease: Tap Into Talisman

With Summertime freedom and tropical holiday escapes teasing us in full flight it seems that it's not just our passports that are itching for some ethnic travel of wanderlust curiosity but our jewellery boxes too ! Travelling vibes and energy across enchanting influences like Tibetan traditions, Indian legend and Egyptian folklore have been encapsulated and woven within the delicate motifs and intricate craftsmanship of this New Season nod to Talismanic design. Such pieces are symbolic of the beautiful cyclic nature of life and messages of enchanting mythology to connect the wearer with the spiritual energies of their chakras and the

Beau Han Xu launches with a SPLASH!

Beau Han Xu, London is a new, innovative and luxurious lifestyle collection created by the award-winning jewellery designer and artist Beau Han Xu. His works include SPLASH! - The Beau Han Xu Diamond Couture Jewellery Collection. Inspired by Nature and the Ethereal, Beau is driven by the desire to freeze frame inspirational moments in time in his creations: a raindrop’s splash and the subtleties of light playing on light. Beau Han Xu is a graduate of the Royal College of Art, where he specialised in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery (GSM&J). In 2015 Beau showcased his SPLASH! Diamond Couture Jewellery

London Design Fair - Old Truman Brewery, London

The 10th anniversary of the London Design Fair runs from 22 – 25 September 2016. This year sees the addition of an amazing new 3rd floor, with country pavilions, features and exhibitions including: 100% Norway, China Academy of Art, British Craft Pavilion, Design in South Italy, Design Prize Switzerland, Form & Seek, Inspiring Portugal, Liu Malmsten & Swedish Wood, Nature Lab, Nordic Design Collective, Scotland: Craft and Design, Swedish Design Pavilion, Takram, The Publishing House (Flea Folly), The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, This Is India & Trentino Collaborations Not to mention over 450 independent designers & studios and

Rebecca Hannon: Contemporary Camouflage

Contemporary Camouflage is Rebecca Hannon’s latest project, one she has developed during two months residency at Studio Rian de Jong, in Amsterdam. Interested in the concepts of concealing and revealing, which stem from the notion of camoiuflage, the artist presents a series of brooches, chignon covers, earrings and necklaces, the result of a paradoxical exploration in the field of contemporary jewellery. Camouflage means “to blend into”, to conceal oneself in one’s surroundings so as to protect oneself, to go unnoticed, or to become a predator in order to survive. Coloration is the principal form camouflage takes in nature. Adapted by

News Edit: 26 March 2023

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news... How I Got Here: Loveness Lee opens up about the challenges of wearing all the hats in your business Red Online: The London-based jewellery designer creates beautiful pieces inspired by nature. www.redonline.co.uk Hailey Bieber can't stop wearing this affordable London-based jewellery brand Marie Claire: A fashion-industry favourite. www.marieclaire.co.uk Eden Confidential: While Mick, 79, rocks on, daughter Jade Jagger, 51, packs in her day job as she gives up designing fine jewellery Daily Mail: Yet, I hear that the singer's daughter, Jade Jagger, is already giving up her career

News Edit: 12 July 2020

As we find our 'new normal' here is a round up of last week's international jewellery news... Chopard brings a playful edge to its red carpet-worthy high jewellery The Telegraph: A necklace featuring 90 carats of heart-shaped diamonds and gemstone-studded animals are among the highlights of Chopard's 2020 collection. telegraph.co.uk Sustainability Tips from Jewellery Designer, Pippa Small Vanity Fair: Inspiration from the acclaimed designer. vanityfair.com July 2020: What's New In Jewellery Tatler: This month, expect summery, everyday, and nature-inspired jewellery pieces—as well as some truly stunning engagement rings. asiatatler.com Your Guide To Wearing Men's Jewellery Right Tatler: With more

Amberif Design Award 2018 Announce Winners

Silvia Bella of Germany, Kairi Sirendi of Estonia and Miron Kutarba of Poland have been announced as the winners of the 2018 edition of the Amberif Design Award, the 22 nd International Amber Jewellery Design Competition. The theme of Serendipity encouraged participation from 100 artists who submitted 127 entries. Amberif Design Award is one of Poland’s most important design competitions of international renown. This year, ADA’s curator Barbara Schmidt of the Academy of Art and Design, Munich, has set the theme of Serendipity to encourage a reflection on how the interplay between nature, technique and intuition can take us far beyond our reason,

Jewellery Boutique Sales Assistant (Weekends) - Part Time, Alex Monroe - London Bridge, London

The role Jewellery Boutique Sales Assistant (Weekends) Alex Monroe London Bridge, London Part Time - 2 days, pro-rated 25k (pro-rated to 2 days a week) At Alex Monroe we design, manufacture and sell beautiful jewellery. We’re really all about people. We have a wonderful bunch of people working here, and a wonderful lot of customers too! Everything is handmade right here in the UK by skilled craftspeople, from our fantastic workshop in the heart of London to our beautiful stores in London Bridge and Covent Garden. It’s a fun place to work, very exciting and ever growing. Often fast paced and