Meet your Maker
Words: Alice Blackwood
Images: Heather Lighton
What does jewellery mean to you?
I believe jewellery is one of the most personal objects you can create. It brings a richness to our lives; it marks status, beauty and important events such as betrothal, birth, anniversary and death.
The potential for longevity with jewellery is something I feel quite attached to. I love the idea that jewellery is such a personal object for one person. That they might wear and treasure the piece for years to come. And in passing it on to the next generation, that piece might take something of the wearer’s history and spirit with it. To me this is very powerful. It reveals the significant cultural contribution it can bring to our everyday lives.
You describe your jewellery designs as ‘Future Classics’. What are the influences that shape your distinctive aesthetic?
Growing up in a supportive creative household has been a great foundation for my practice. My architect father has had a big influence on my work, training my eye and developing my aesthetic which is strongly influenced by architecture, design and art. When I undertook my degree in Gold and Silversmithing at RMIT University in 2001, I was able to harness all these early influences to develop my own unique style.
My pieces are highly refined, stripped back and reduced to their central forms and geometries. I find myself returning to civilisation’s most primary forms: the square, circle and triangle. They are the building blocks of all design and I find an inherent beauty in these shapes.
As Director of Pieces of Eight Gallery, I continue to push the boundaries of jewellery design through collaborations with artists and designers from myriad disciplines. It fulfils my dream to build a life where I can have a creative output, while also supporting the work of other talented creatives.
"I create objects of quality that honour rare and precious materials. These enduring pieces transcend trend, time and style to become a cherished part of my client’s personal journey."
Tell us about your making processes, and the wonderful gems you personally source, to create your pieces.
I love working with precious metal. Its value and provenance is inherent, yet it’s an infinitely recyclable material. I’m especially interested in sourcing extraordinary gems and adventure far and wide to find the perfect stone. From remote Australia to far-flung international destinations, I find building relationships with the miners, gem cutters and those in the trade incredibly rewarding.
One of my favourite destinations is the gem and sapphire fields of central Queensland, from where I source Australian zircon, and a personal favourite – the parti sapphire. Australian opals, sourced from Lightning Ridge (NSW) and Coober Pedy (SA), are also a special favourite and very worthy of a resurgence.
Custom cutting these stones has opened up a whole new world of design for me. It's allowed me the freedom to break away from standard cuts and explore new forms and shapes, allowing me to control the entire design process from raw materials to finished piece.
What do you love most about designing bespoke jewellery pieces?
To be able to craft bespoke pieces that uniquely express an individual is a rare and special thing. That relationship between jeweller and client is intimate and nuanced. I love working one-on-one with my customers, offering them a tailored customised approach that draws on a unique combination of skills, experience and rare materials.