Jazzy Earbobs

Sterling silver and glass beads

13mm Ø

I have been a practicing jeweller and silversmith for over 30 years and am fascinated by small details and bright colour. My designs employ clean elegant shapes formed from silver and gold embellished with moments of colour and texture. My interest in jewellery was awakened by childhood travels to Africa where I encountered the adornment and colourful beadwork of the Maasai people. I translated this into brightly patterned enamel while studying at Loughborough College of Art & Design and continued through studies at the Royal College of Art and into my time at Cockpit Studios where I set up her first workshop.

Later, as a diplomatic spouse, I have lived in Russia, America, India and Thailand. These places all provided inspiration for my work, the designs evolving with each new country. I have translated the rich textures and colours collected on these travels into designs embellished with kinetic colourful glass beads, enamel and occasionally precious gem

Artist bio:
Claire has been a practising jeweller and silversmith for over 30 years. Her childhood was spent between the UK, where she was born, and Africa which had a profound influ ence on her work.

After leaving school Claire took an arts foundation course where she fell in love with metalwork and enamelling. She went on to study Silversmithing, Goldsmithing, Metal work and Jewellery at the Royal College of Art in London. After graduating in 1991 she won The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths Award for Silversmithing and set up her first studio at Cockpit Workshops in Bloomsbury, central London. While there she exhib ited extensively in shops and galleries throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. In 1995 Claire won the UK Crafts Council’s Carroll Foundation Award.

Claire is married to a British diplomat and has lived in Russia, the USA, India, Thailand and Vietnam. Claire currently lives and works between Hanoi and London where she continues to develop her collection of jewellery.