Wooden Jewellery

I first met Sarah at West Dean College. I had signed up to do the ‘Sculptural Paper Jewellery’ course which Sarah was teaching. It was a really great week, I learned lots and still use paper in my practice today to plan and mock up pieces.

In the summer it will be five years since I graduated. I have been on a roller coaster ride with my small business, but I am finally quite settled at where my business is currently at. I am working on new designs all the time, experimenting along the way.

I am always looking for new and exciting stockists and exhibitions to apply for. I have a really loyal customer base which I am extremely lucky to have and I never thought when I started out that I would have a great wee business going after just 5 years.

I would have to say receiving the jewellery award at New designers, it was such a huge deal for me at the time and I felt the exposure it gave to my graduate collection really helped to boost the start to my business.

Is there one piece of advice that you would give to someone thinking of starting their own creative business?

Don’t give up too quick. I’m sure at some stage every person trying to start up a business after graduating has thought ‘why am I doing this to myself?’ It can be financially tough, physically and mentally but persistence and a positive outlook on life can go a long way.

How has running your business changed in the time you’ve been involved in the industry?

In my first couple of years of business I was a ‘yes’ person. I said yes to everything I was asked to do. I would make new work for every exhibition I was asked to do and I got to the stage I felt like I was on a treadmill, making lots but getting nowhere.

I have gradually over the years understood what actually makes me tick as a maker and have changed my business to suit that. I loved having work in so many spaces at once however I needed time to slow down my pace and make work that excited me again. I have recently also added small silver smithing pieces to my body of work and have gotten back into painting, which I would love to take forward and show in galleries.

I have never had a particular role model as such, however I always find myself in awe of women running their own successful businesses. Designers such as Donna Wilson and Sheila Fleet are two that spring to mind that have their business for a number of years and are always working forward to the next new exciting project.

I love working with metal. There is endless ways to sculpt, from, cut and texture it, its extremely satisfying to work with. With regards to other materials I would like to explore, absolutely.

I have recently started a ceramics class which I am looking forward to the outcomes of that. I would love to push my wood work in a different way and make it more 3D so looking at wood carving and turning would be a next step for me. I am open to using any materials as long as I feel like they suit my work, I have recently gotten back into using rubber which is very exciting!

My engagement ring is my favourite thing that I own and I doubt I would ever be able to replace if I lost it. It’s a 1920’s ring that is just so unusual, I have never seen anything like it before, its very sentimental for obvious reasons.

Something that means so much to you that you could never put a price on it.