Linda Connelly Enamels

Tag: basse taille

  • Moments of Time and Place

    Moments of Time and Place

    New work evolved and inspired by landscapes

    At the beginning of the year I embarked on a journey spending time developing some of the ideas I had for enamels whilst walking and enjoying the landscape around me. I always take lots of photos and in recent years I have been capturing some of my ideas in a small sketch book that I carry with me. I started painting exploring the colours and discovered these gorgeous tiny pieces of Khadi paper that are perfect for a jeweller like myself.

    Tiny paintings of landscape and skies

    The bottom right one is from Bardolino, Lake Garda which I visited last year. Below is a photo I took at the time.

    Bardolino, Lake Garda

    I couldn’t immediately see how to translate my ideas into jewellery other than by complicated cloisonné wires which wouldn’t achieve the look I was seeking. The breakthrough came when I began using my engraving skills to carve depth into the silver surface. This technique is called basse-taille. Now I could use transparent jewellery enamels to paint and portray tiny images to be worn as earrings and pendants.

    Here is the first piece I made in this series. The mountains and rocks are all carved into the silver surface, under the enamel. Each piece has probably seven or eight layers which are all fired separately before I use diamond grits and polish to finish the surface.

    Bardolino pendant

    Some of the first pieces I made together with the tiny painting that inspired them.

    Moments of Time and Place tiny pendants and paintings

    There are earrings too.

    Time and Place enamel earrings

    I have made more pieces inspired by specific places including Rye, Brighton and Eastbourne in East Sussex. These are all places I know well and visit frequently. Spending time in them is balm to my soul and I hope that wearing one of these helps the wearer connect with the peace they may similarly feel whilst there.

    Eastbourne beach, East Sussex – Pendant and tiny painting

    I have continued to develop the idea behind these pieces and here are the very latest pieces in this series.

    Black headed gull flying over the dunes
    Morning mist over the marshes
    Marsh Dawn
    Coming Home

    The four large pendants above and a selection of the smaller pendant and earrings will be on show at Oxmarket Contemporary in Chichester 11-23 November 2025 as part of ‘Tales in the Making’ an exhibition with the Society of Designer Makers. Full details of opening times on my website.

    Display at Oxmarket Contemporary Tales in the Making with Society of Designer Makers

    I would love to know what you think of this new work. It has been an exciting, inspiring and at times deeply frustrating journey to get here. I’m not finished yet and I feel there is lots more to come in this series. There are pieces in my sketchbook waiting to be born resulting from a recent holiday in Dubrovnik as well as an Autumn walk in my local woods. So much inspiration everywhere! Where would you like to see a piece from? I would love to know and perhaps I could work with you to make a piece inspired by your special place.

  • “Evolution” Success in Goldsmiths’ Competition 2025

    “Evolution” Success in Goldsmiths’ Competition 2025

    Evolution Necklace and Earrings 2025

    I was absolutely delighted to receive an award for this necklace and earrings at the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Awards. They are the latest in a series of pieces which are inspired by fossils especially ammonites. The necklace comprises a central pendant which features a gold cloisonné enamel spiral shape which also features engraving under the enamel. The silver surround is engraved to reflect the striations in rocks where they are found. The necklace is strung with freshwater pearls and also features a box snap clasp with a similar enamel design. The earrings are matching and also feature moissanites set in 18ct gold on the ear fittings. The clasp nearly didn’t make it as it was missing in action for more than a week when it pinged off whilst I was polishing it! It’s fair to say I was very upset and I can’t describe my elation when I found it sitting on a shelf behind a pot of enamel! Hidden in plain sight and I had literally dismantled my studio looking for it!

    Awards night at Goldsmiths’ Hall

    It is always an exciting night to visit the awards ceremony at Goldsmiths Hall in London and this year was even better as a number of my enamelling friends also won awards. Afterwards we went out for a meal and much wine was drunk in celebration!

    Evolution has evolved from a long term fascination with fossils. We used to spend hours as a family hunting for them on beaches when my son was young. Ammonites are a theme I have been exploring through different techniques in enamel for many years. During that time work has evolved as I explore new ways of working. The pandemic in 2020 allowed me to take time out to develop new techniques and ways of working and Evolution arose out of this strange and difficult time. These are the latest in the range and more can be seen in my shop.

    The earrings will be part of my display in the “Duality” exhibition at Gold Lark Jewellery in Salts Mill, Saltaire, Bradford. The exhibits open Sunday 27th April to Monday 26th May. Gold Lark Jewellery Gallery is Yorkshire’s largest collection of contemporary jewellery, set in Salts Mill, a world heritage site and home of the David Hockney collection. It is a huge thrill to be part of this and I would love to know what you think it you are able to visit.

  • Seascape – Enamel Jewellery

    Seascape – Enamel Jewellery

    A celebration of the sea, dunes and marshes of the North Norfolk coast, UK

    One of my favourite places to visit in the UK is the North Norfolk coast. My family and I have been regularly visiting for the past thirty years or so and it is a place that always inspires me. Last summer husband and I went again and this time we stayed more centrally than previously and as a result we were able to spend lots of time walking by the sea and marshes instead of driving to and from my favourite places. I fell in love with the landscape there all over again and was able to spend lots of time drawing and photographing the wild flowers and the amazing ever changing views of sea, sky and marsh land together with the abundant birds and wildflowers. During the course of a week of breakfasting on fresh croissants from a local cafe whilst sitting on a bench watching the ever changing water in the inlet together with long daily walks along the coast, ideas for a whole new range gradually appeared in my sketchbook as if by magic. They were literally born as a result of immersing myself in the spirit of the landscape around me whilst hunting for fossils, paddling in the sea and walking the coastal footpaths with marshes, dunes, pebbles and wildlife together with the ever crashing waves and the sound of gulls as a soundtrack. I called them Seascape and some of you may have seen some of these at shows last year. I hope they convey a sense of the place and remind you of your own special times on beaches and by the sea in with family and friends. 

    Seascape Pins and brooches

    The first pieces I made were small brooches. The one on the right can also be worn as a pendant. I love a brooches myself as they pin just as easily to a fleece or jersey as to smart going out clothes. They are cloisonné enamel on silver that I have hand-engraved.

    Seascape brooch
    Seascape pendant/brooch
    Seascape brooches

    Seascape pendants and earrings

    Like the brooches these are all hand engraved silver with cloisonné enamel. Many of my piece feature a jelly fish because we saw them in the harbour whilst we were disembarking after a boat trip along the coast.

    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Pendant
    Seascape pendant
    Seascape Pendant
    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Earrings
    Seascape Tiny pendant
    Seascape pendant
    Seascape pendants and earrings Silver cloisonné enamel

    Chips and Ice cream – A perfect meal for the beach

    Seascape chip fork and ice cream spoon

    More pieces are being added to this range so please check out my shop if you are interested. If a piece isn’t available please contact me as some pieces may be able to be repeated. They won’t be identical but could be very similar.

    More pictures from North Norfolk coast, UK

    Here are a few more images of the spectacular scenery. They don’t do it justice but I hope they convert just a little of the huge skies and sense of space and freedom that I felt there.

  • Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant and Brooch

    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant and Brooch

    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant and Brooch

    I have long been interested in environmental issues and when I was tasked with making a piece for an exhibition entitled “Underwater Flora and Fauna”, I remembered hearing about Kelp Forests and I decided to investigate further.

    I learned that these are found all over the world but I was particularly interested to discover that they exist off the Sussex coast which is near to where I live. Kelp forests provide a vital habitat for a host of sealife, from tiny worms to young fish and help protect coastal areas from storm surges. Threats to them include climate change, pollution and over fishing. David Attenborough made a film for BBC South called “Save Magical Kelp Forests”. There is a campaign by Sussex Wildlife Trust highlighting this issue and I wanted to help by raising awareness. Jewellery has been used throughout history to convey messages and this piece follows  this tradition to help initiate conversations about the cause.

    Sketch book designs for Kelp Forest jewellery

    I began by making lots of drawings to decide the shape and the design. The first piece I made was a smaller pendant measuring 40mm x 26mm. This enabled me to try out the colours and the design before I committed to a larger piece of silver.

    Small Seahorse in Kelp Forest pendant

    I wanted to make the next piece able to be worn both as a brooch and a pendant. This makes it more versatile and adaptable, plus brooches/badges are particularly associated with messages and protest. It took a lot of planning to ensure the shape worked for both, as well as working to help create the illusion of depth to the sea. Here is the design I chose to make.



    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant/brooch

    The enamel comprises fine gold and fine silver cloisonné on basse taille fine silver, set in a bezel with jelly fish on the back. There is a loop for a chain and a double pin brooch fastening. The pin fastening can be used as a stand to display the piece when it is not being worn. It measures 56mm x 28mm.

    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant
    Reverse of Seahorse in Kelp ForestBrooch/pendant
    Seahorse in Kelp Forest Pendant/brooch on display

    I am planning for this to be part of a new series of pieces entitled “Let’s Talk”. There are too many instances of individuals, businesses and governments quietly getting on with polluting our planet in pursuit of profit, without a care for the consequences. “Let’s Talk” will be a range of pieces designed to promote conversation about environmental issues and to raise awareness. With knowledge and coming together there is a real hope that we can work together for the good of nature and to promote a better, healthier future for us, our children and for generations yet to come. Knowledge is power and we can use it to work together for a better future.