“There’s a reason we don’t see things in black and white”
In 2020 after 15 years of working with copper and wire I moved into creating things from paper. I felt I had gone as far as I could with my wire designs and even delved into working with sheet metals adding patina and spray paints desperate to add colour to my work.
During the Covid pandemic the world turned upside down and everything changed. I was compelled to use my time to trial out fresh ideas that used a different skill set and materials
I have always loved the textures and subtle tones of natural paper and invested in various beautiful varieties to burn and papercut for previous bodies of work. I started to experimented with more sculptural forms using papier mache and the idea of using toilet tissue was a cheeky nod to the panic buying that was sweeping the UK during the first Covid lockdown. The choice of toilet paper turned out to be a good one – it gives a wonderful texture and fibrous finish to the final pieces.
Deciding to use it for my jewellery seemed a natural progression and paper is a joy to work with. I love using inks to add my own subtle layers of colour or using the solid pre dyed papers in striking combinations. Developing some of the more abstract graphic artwork I was creating, my jewellery is inspired by geometric shapes, 60’s and 80’s fashion and the minimal and contemporary.
Working with such a spectrum of colour has been a breath of fresh air and feels poles apart from the earthy organic wire work I was used to creating. My journey with wire will always be a special one that was also incredibly rewarding but there is a new journey unfolding.