Adviser - Winter 2018

Where does your inspiration for the pieces come from? Are there any historic or contemporary jewellery designers whose work you particularly admire? I definitely get my inspiration from nature. The ever-changing rich vegetation in Scotland is always encouraging, and most of my jewellery is named after a Highland feature. I am in love with all of the big jewellery houses, especially the House of Garrard, as well as the historic designs of HM Queen Victoria’s designer of deer tusk jewellery. I also find today’s younger jewellery designer brands very inspirational. Britain’s Robinson Pelham has a cheerful use of coloured stones, USA’s Feral Jewelry has a ‘fearless beauty’ in using animal bone or horn in their designs. The glitterati animal creations by Angry Jewellery from Italy are captivating. Kenya’s Jeweler, Mayana, uses vibrant Maasai patterns in traditional colours, and Rosenkrantz African luxury jeweller ‘hunts’ for their own stones in the deep African bush. You obviously have a close affinity with the natural history of the Highlands. Can you explain what it means to you to be able to spend time there? I am at peace in Scotland. I am always thinking of the next design by watching wildlife, gazing at landscapes or observing the seasonal changes. The Highlands are a perfect environment for me to think and create.

Making jewellery from deer tusks seems quite unusual, but it is a natural material that has been used for many years. How did you discover its use in jewellery and what was the first piece you made? After a day of stalking on a nearby Highland estate, I came across a large bunch of cashew-looking objects in a jar in the game larder. I asked the gamekeeper what they were, and he explained that they were the top two incisor ‘teeth’ of the red deer stag (male). The proper name for them is ‘tusk’ because they are ivory. He also explained that people used to trade and sell the ivory or make jewellery out of them. My eyes widened.... I have been designing jewellery for family and friends for over twenty years and this was something wonderfully different whilst in keeping with the confines of using deer tusks. He very kindly gave me the entire jar of over 250 tusks. I knew I wanted to make one single piece out of that entire jar. I designed a necklace with six rows of tusks cascading downward, all set in 18k gold with over 12 carats of diamonds. I wore this everywhere, it became a conversation piece.

2 0 | S C R U T T O N B L A N D | B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker