This year there has been an amazing exhibition of Turner and Constable at Tate Britain, London. I was taken there as a birthday treat and it was utterly mesmerising. It’s on until 12 April so there is still time to catch it. Husband bought me the book so I can refer to it at any time.
I have been focussing on skies and landscape more a more recently. The desire to look up and see the wonder above, rather than the increasingly awful reality on Earth has been both an inspiration and a comfort in these difficult times.
Sketchbook page inspired by Turner skies
I try to make Sundays a non-studio day and I often reach for my sketchbook and paints then to try and capture what is in my head , with a view to maybe translating some of them into enamel at a later date.
Watercolours and gouache.
Each enamelled piece starts with a piece of silver which I engrave by hand. Then there are many very thin layers of enamel, painstakingly applied, building up colours and tone. Each layer is fired for one or two minutes in my kiln before the next.
Some of the stages of enamelling this small pendant.
Here are some finished pieces.
New small pendants and earrings inspired by Turner paintingsSwans flying across a golden sky
This necklace is inspired by a visit to Dubrovnik late last year. ‘Pearl in the Adriatic’ is the name often given to Dubrovnik, Croatia. The design is inspired by the view from the cliffs just outside the old town. The colours of the sea and vegetation combined with the textures of the foliage were absolutely breathtaking and I knew immediately I wanted to try and replicate it in enamel as a piece of jewellery.
I studied the texture of the vegetation in order to try and replicate it in the hand engraved texture that comprises the Basse-taille technique.
Sketch book Designs for Pearl in the Adriatic enamel necklace
I explored different shapes in my sketch book before settling on the final design. I decided to use cloisonné for the agave leaves to bring them forward in the design.
From photos and drawings in my sketchbook I engraved the silver to echo the foliage. I then used very thin layers of transparent jewellery enamel to colour the design, using the enamel like watercolours and adding tiny amounts with careful and painstaking placement. To finish the whole piece was ground and polished before making the silver setting and selecting the freshwater pearls that it is strung with. The finished piece carries the memory of that perfect day with the breathtaking view that the wearer can touch and enjoy wherever they are .
Competition Success
I was absolutely delighted when this necklace too won a silver award at the Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards 2026. It nearly didn’t get finished in time and it was a real race against the clock. I knew as soon as I saw the view though that I wanted to make this necklace for this year’s awards. It was a huge challenge to finish it in time but I was determined to give it my all. Once I had completed the other necklace, Marsh Dawn that also won an award though!
Success at 2026 GCDC AwardsPearl in the Adriatic enamel necklace Silver Award at 2026 GCDC Awards
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 dunesMorning mist over the marshesMarsh DawnComing 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.
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.
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.
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.
I have recently finished another brooch/pendant in my new series of pieces designed to raise awareness of environmental issues. This depicts a coral reef in cloisonné enamel on basse-taille silver. The edges are grey and dark symbolising the damage they are suffering due to climate change and pollution. The centre is vibrant as a sign of hope and the whole piece is designed to raise awareness of the issue. The world needs to act now and I want this brooch to help spark conversations on the issue between the wearer and people around them.
The reverse of the brooch has been engraved and it has a double pin and a loop for a chain so it can be worn as a pendant. The brooch stands up so it can be displayed when it isn’t being worn.
I was inspired to make this as a follow up to the Seahorse in Kelp Forest pendant and brooch that featured in a previous post. I plan to make more in this series. The idea came to me following a trip to London Zoo with my son for our joint birthday. They have a super aquarium display that really captured my imagination. Later I visited the Seaworld centre in London to draw the coral in their display there. Maybe I will need to learn to dive one day so I can see habitats like this in the sea but in the meantime being able to see them in aquariums helps me to gain an understanding of how to depict them.
Here are a few images of the piece being made. The colours were developed over many firings before finally the piece was ground and polished to finish the enamel ready for me to construct the setting.
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.
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 PendantReverse of Seahorse in Kelp ForestBrooch/pendantSeahorse 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.
I am very pleased and excited to say that these two Iris necklaces both won Silver Awards at the 2024 Goldsmiths competition #jewelleryoscars. It is the first time I have entered more than one piece and this year having finished them both, I couldn’t decide which one to enter. I never expected or even hoped to win an award for each of them. It is always a hugely exciting event at Goldsmith’s Hall in London and you only know you have won something when you receive an invitation to the awards evening. The results are only revealed on the night which only adds to the sense of excitement and anticipation as you wait for each category to be announced.
Each of the two necklaces are gold cloisonné enamel on hand engraved silver, in silver bezel settings and strung with freshwater pearls. The one on the right also has 18ct gold beads and the other has some extra triangular enamel beads made to match. Both feature enamelled S shape clasps.
They have just been returned to me having been in exhibitions at Goldsmiths Hall and then Birmingham Assay Office. Later this year they may be selected for a further exhibition at Goldsmiths Centre. Watch this space! Meanwhile they are both available for adoption so let me know if one is calling to you!
Here is a selection of my latest work featuring Irises in cloisonné enamel jewellery. For the past six months I have been working on a succession of cloisonné enamel pendants, necklaces and earrings which are inspired by Irises. I especially love the look of these flowers, particularly the bearded irises. It is a flower that has had a profound effect on artists of all genres over the centuries. I have never been fortunate enough to see Van Goghs painting of Irises in real life but this came to my mind at the beginning of my journey. Luckily I was able to find a beautiful second hand book with a good illustration of the painting. Last year I attended a session on Arts and Crafts Jewellery at the Goldsmiths’ Hall library and this reignited my interest in the Arts and Crafts era. This is the British expression of what later came to be called the Art Nouveau movement, which it strongly influenced. I was particularly taken by the jewellery of Edith and Nelson Dawson who together made some stunning examples of enamelled jewellery at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th.
Here are a few of my latest cloisonne enamel iris earrings, necklaces and pendants.
Purple Iris Necklace with Peacock freshwater pearls. Gold cloisonne enamel on silver.Purple and Apricot Iris necklace with fresh water pearls. Gold cloisonne enamel on silverSmall Purple and Apricot Iris pendant. Gold cloisonne with moissanite set in 18ct.Pink and Purple Iris earrings. Gold cloisonne on silver and moissanites set in 18ct.Violet and Pinky-Mauve small Iris Pendant. Gold cloisonne on silverViolet and Pinky-Mauve Iris Earrings. Gold cloisonne on silver.
I would love to know what you think. Send me a message. Don’t forget you can keep up with all my latest news including shows, exhibitions and classes by subscribing to my newsletter. You can also click the links to follow me on Facebook and Instagram where I share all my new works.
For the Love of an Elephant cloisonné enamel necklace
I made this necklace for the Cookson Gold February Design of the Month competition. The theme was Love and I immediately thought of this title and wanted to make a piece for it.
The piece is cloisonné enamel on a hand engraved silver base in a silver setting. He is joyful and colourful and I wanted to make something uplifting for these challenging times. He is all dressed up for a festival or a party. He carries a heart in his upturned trunk. In the Hindu tradition an upward pointed trunk dispenses energy, luck and kindness. Elephants do this to greet friends and to express happiness. I hope he will bring happiness to the wearer and spread joy wherever he ends up!
I was very excited when I heard he was the winning piece. They said ‘The judges chose this piece because they felt the piece was beautifully done and finished to perfection. They also liked the way the theme of love was shown in an non conventional way’. I won £100 to spend which should be quite easy He has just gone to be hallmarked and then he will be available to purchase. He will cost £230 plus postage. Let me know if you want to reserve him to bring some happiness and joy to your life.
I finished these two cloisonné necklaces this afternoon. They are all on silver in silver settings. The Enamels for the two Magic Carpet necklaces measure 30mm. These are inspired by Magic Carpets, infused with memories and dreams of places visited and people known, in the past and in the future. I hope their new owners fill them with their own Magical Memories and Dreams. The other is part of my Mystical Domes series and is around 35mm in diameter. These are inspired by my fascination with domes, my love of the Brighton Pavilion, St Paul’s cathedral and the Mughal architecture I saw in Rajasthan, combined with stories of the mythical lands of Arabian Nights. One of the Magic Carpets is sold and the other will be coming with me to Farnham Festival of Crafts at the weekend. Unless anyone wants to buy it before it gets there of course!
Magic Carpet Cloisonné Enamel necklaces
Mystical Domes Cloisonné Enamel necklace
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