Garden Landscape Pendant
PMC Fine Silver, Sterling Silver, pearl, peridot, crystal

Garden Landscape Collar
PMC Fine Silver, Sterling Silver, pearl, peridot, crystal

Artist’s Statement
After over 20 years of working in clay, in 2000 I started seriously exploring jewellery, becoming increasingly fascinated with precious metal clay (PMC): I am now working exclusively with silver, wire and semi-precious stones.

My current body of work explores the fusion of several techniques, which I have been refining since 2003. Crocheted and knitted fine wire is combined with shell, silver or sometimes used alone in sculptural form, to create cuff bracelets, necklaces, collars, earrings and rings which I then weave with gemstones, pearls and crystals. I have a lifelong knowledge of knitting and crochet which gives an endless supply of inspiration for stitches as well as for pattern and colour. This medium holds seemingly unlimited possibilities and in 2006 I have been exploring more textural and sculptural directions, as the crocheted wire allows for strength and form while still maintaining a delicate beauty. I am excited by this combination of techniques and gratified by the response to the work. I have designed a collection priced to appeal to a wide range of customers, form simple pendants selling at $50 to elaborate collars and cuffs up to $2000.

Biography
I was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland and graduated from the Ceramics Program of Edinburgh College of Art in 1979. I emigrated to Canada, living in Toronto from 1979 to 1981 where I taught crafts to children in the schools program at Harbourfront and worked at Mirvish’s art bookstore. After moving to Victoria in 1981 I worked for Robin Hopper for two years, completing 15,000 glaze tests for his book, “The Ceramic Spectrum.”

From 1984 to the present, I have raised two sons and set up my own home-based pottery studio. Initially I produced a range of functional porcelain and later moved on to a line of slip-cast goddesses which I still produce and sell worldwide. I have spent considerable time during this period also making one-of-a-kind gallery pieces, particularly working with smoke-fired terra sigillatas.

In 2000 I started seriously exploring jewellery, after becoming increasingly fascinated with PMC (precious metal clay): the clay connection is clear and I enjoyed the challenge of working on a very different scale. Having always loved jewellery, this seemed like a perfect stepping stone into a new area of work and I am now working exclusively with silver, wire and semi-precious stones.