I started making jewellery after I finished my MA in London. I lived in a small flat in Sheperds Bush and couldn`t afford a studio, so I didn`t have the luxury of being able to make room sized installations, so needed to make something small! Jewellery seemed like the perfect solution, so I joined a jewellery-making course with a friend and we giggled our way through it…After this course I continued to experiment and it gradually became part of my practice. The following year I went to New Zealand for three months for an artists` residency at an art centre near Wellington. It was here I spent three blissful months developing my jewellery practice
When I first came to live in the rainy, but very lovely, city of Manchester, my childhood friend and I set up our own accessory studio Ellie and Lou in the Manchester Craft and Design Centre. I now make from my lovely studio at home near Manchester.
I now use laser cutting technology to create unique and delicate shapes that I then layer, playing with depth. I use different materials like; walnut, acrylic, feathers, ribbon and fabric. The pieces often connect to a certain places that evoke a nostalgic elegance, often using an art deco palette to hand paint each piece. I am inspired by architecture in particular art deco interiors, as well as craft techniques, such as quilling and decoupage. I exhibit my collections in various places and galleries such as Yorkshire Sculpture Park and they are stocked widely; featuring in British Vogue as well as popular blogs like Creative Review etc.
I have been experimenting with laser cutting out of mirrored acrylic for my new collection of jewellery…..I have been thinking about what i want to call my necklaces too! the one below is going to be called Polly Paradise ….
I really am not a fan of drawing and feel much more inspired to create with my hands…..so i have been quilling with leather to create the shapes i want for my new collection of laser cut jewellery…..here is a sneak preview…..