I graduated in 1998 from Loughborough College of Art and Design with a BA Hons. in Illustration. My illustration work combines my love of drawing with my passion for creating characters and stories. I work mainly in pencil as I prefer the quality of line that this creates. I also like to colour a lot of my work with felt tip pens as they produce a hand drawn quality and a richness of colour.
I successfully completed an N.D. in Design Crafts at The School of Jewellery in Birmingham in June 2006.
On the course we were taught traditional jewellery making skills such as enamelling, engraving, casting, forging, stamping and etching. I really enjoyed my time there and found the School of Jewellery a very positive and inspiring place to study.
I discovered a real enthusiasm for saw piercing and engraving which enables me to translate my skills in illustration into jewellery.
I received the following awards for my work at the School of Jewellery:
- Thomas Sutton Prize for First Year Student 2005
- Brian Grainger Young Designers Award for Jewellery Products for the UK 2006, First Prize
- The Jewellery Quarter Association Prize for Craftsmanship, Students Final Year
- The Assay Office Prize 2006
I was awarded a place on the Design Space project in July 2006. The project is run by Birmingham City Council and provides twelve months free workshop space, business support, an NVQ in Business and industry specific mentors for ten jewellers. I felt very lucky to have been working in the Jewellery Quarter which is such a vibrant and creative place to start your own business.
In March 2008 I started working as a Product Designer for a company that manufactures and sells educational and retail craft products.