Ellina Pollitt
Ellina, originally from Russia, has lived in the UK for fifteen years. Her passion for design was sparked by her first degree in Forestation and Park Planning, completed in Russia, where landscapes were an inspiration. Working as a fitness instructor widened her interest in anatomical and natural forms and led her to enrol on a degree in 3D Design, specialising in jewellery, at Staffordshire University, from which she graduated in 2019.
Ellina has continued her studies by undertaking a master’s degree at Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery, from which she will graduate this year. She won gold in the Laser Technology category of the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Awards in 2021, as well as being awarded the Alfa Laser overall award for this competition category. Ellina likes to work with different metals, finding it fascinating to form flat pieces of material into bold and creative designs, enjoying developing patters, structures and constructions.
Ellina’s Bold Collection takes inspiration from Zaha Hadid’s architecture, Iris Van Herpen and Gareth Pue’s fashion designs and Tatty Devine jewellery. Her visual style is big and bold, utilising repeated organic lines for scale and impact. She favours a collaborative approach to making working with peers at university, colleagues from industry, and third sector organisations. She enjoys the breadth of experience brought to projects by the range of stakeholders she works with.
Ellina was involved in a collaborative project to create the ceremonial mace for Staffordshire University in 2018 and a collection of ceramic butterflies for the Donna Louise Trust in 2019, sold in Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire. Her career aspirations include establishing her own fashion jewellery brand specialising in large scale body adornments.
