Makers' Stories

Do you want to discover the makers' stories behind the products? Read our Goldsmiths' Shop Talent blog. 

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From Bamboo to Gold: Gillian Finlay’s Sculptural Jewellery Journey

Posted by Rae Gellel on

Gillian Finlay, a jeweller now based in Edinburgh, draws inspiration from the bamboo scaffolding of her childhood in Hong Kong, where craftsmen build intricate, towering structures without metal or screws. Her Scaffold collection mirrors the strength, flexibility, and geometric beauty of these lattice-like forms. Selected for Shine 2024, the Goldsmiths' Centre’s prestigious showcase of emerging talent, Gillian is recognized as a rising star in jewellery design.

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From Bamboo to Gold: Gillian Finlay’s Sculptural Jewellery Journey

Posted by Rae Gellel on

Gillian Finlay, a jeweller now based in Edinburgh, draws inspiration from the bamboo scaffolding of her childhood in Hong Kong, where craftsmen build intricate, towering structures without metal or screws. Her Scaffold collection mirrors the strength, flexibility, and geometric beauty of these lattice-like forms. Selected for Shine 2024, the Goldsmiths' Centre’s prestigious showcase of emerging talent, Gillian is recognized as a rising star in jewellery design.

Read more

Crafting the Waves: Clare Maiden’s Coastal-Inspired Jewellery

Posted by Rae Gellel on

For years, Clare Maiden worked in marketing, but an evening jewellery-making class changed everything. Now, based on the Cornish coast, Clare creates elegant jewellery inspired by the sea. Her Wave collection, crafted using sustainable materials, captures the fluidity and beauty of ocean waves. Clare’s story is one of rediscovering creativity, and her work is featured in the prestigious Shine 2024 exhibition at the Goldsmiths' Centre, celebrating emerging talent in the jewellery industry.

Read more

Crafting the Waves: Clare Maiden’s Coastal-Inspired Jewellery

Posted by Rae Gellel on

For years, Clare Maiden worked in marketing, but an evening jewellery-making class changed everything. Now, based on the Cornish coast, Clare creates elegant jewellery inspired by the sea. Her Wave collection, crafted using sustainable materials, captures the fluidity and beauty of ocean waves. Clare’s story is one of rediscovering creativity, and her work is featured in the prestigious Shine 2024 exhibition at the Goldsmiths' Centre, celebrating emerging talent in the jewellery industry.

Read more

Weaving History into Jewellery: Charlotte Smith’s Revival of Traditional Crafts

Posted by Rae Gellel on

Charlotte Smith, a Birmingham School of Jewellery graduate, reclaims the undervalued art of sewing through her intricate, feminine jewellery. Working from a historic Black Country cottage, she fuses old and new techniques by recreating sequins in precious metals, layering enamel, and sewing embellishments onto perforated backplates.

Read more

Weaving History into Jewellery: Charlotte Smith’s Revival of Traditional Crafts

Posted by Rae Gellel on

Charlotte Smith, a Birmingham School of Jewellery graduate, reclaims the undervalued art of sewing through her intricate, feminine jewellery. Working from a historic Black Country cottage, she fuses old and new techniques by recreating sequins in precious metals, layering enamel, and sewing embellishments onto perforated backplates.

Read more

8 Industry Experts Select Shine 2024’s Top Picks

Posted by Isabel Keim on

Looking to stay ahead of the trends in jewellery and silversmithing? Curious about who the next big names in the industry will be? Or perhaps you’re on the hunt for the perfect statement piece to wear or gift this holiday season? You’re in the right place!

Read more

8 Industry Experts Select Shine 2024’s Top Picks

Posted by Isabel Keim on

Looking to stay ahead of the trends in jewellery and silversmithing? Curious about who the next big names in the industry will be? Or perhaps you’re on the hunt for the perfect statement piece to wear or gift this holiday season? You’re in the right place!

Read more

A Passion for Beads: Emma Lawrence’s Colourful Journey with Spangle Fandango

Posted by Rae Gellel on

A lifelong passion for all things “colourful and shiny” led Emma Lawrence to explore jewellery-making as a hobby around 2010. What began as a creative way to while away the evenings, however blossomed into Spangle Fandango, a jewellery brand that specialises in vibrant and fun colour juxtapositions, shapes and patterns created through the intricate weaving of tiny glass beads.

Read more

A Passion for Beads: Emma Lawrence’s Colourful Journey with Spangle Fandango

Posted by Rae Gellel on

A lifelong passion for all things “colourful and shiny” led Emma Lawrence to explore jewellery-making as a hobby around 2010. What began as a creative way to while away the evenings, however blossomed into Spangle Fandango, a jewellery brand that specialises in vibrant and fun colour juxtapositions, shapes and patterns created through the intricate weaving of tiny glass beads.

Read more