About
Lisa is originally from Lancashire, but now lives and works in the very beautiful South West of Scotland.
Living where she does, nature is obviously a big influence on Lisa's work, but her passions for architecture and history also colour what she produces.
The Arts and Crafts movement is of particular interest to her and many of those ideas sit comfortably with Lisa's work. The idea of Simplicity or Splendour - that near overall simplicity might be set off with highlights of rich colour, pattern or texture.
Simplicity or minimalism is not about cheapness or poor finish, for as William Morris said "This simplicity you may make as costly as you please". Simplicity is the ideal contrast for the splendour of richly coloured precious gemstones and accents of different colours and texture.
The Arts and Crafts movement was keen to revive and revitalise traditional techniques and craftsmanship and this is a subject close to Lisa's own heart. She has recently undertaken training in two very traditional techniques, those of engraving and chasing & repousse.
"In making Arts and Crafts jewellery one of the main concerns was that, in addition to producing the piece by hand, it should be executed largely by one person, thus maintaining the essence of individuality" (pg 47, Simplicity or Splendour Arts and Crafts Living: objects from the Cheltenham Collections)
The motto of the Arts and Crafts Movement was "Head, Heart and Hands". Head for creativity and imagination, hand for skill and craft and heart for honesty and love.
Lisa also works in this way and believes that work described as handmade should be exactly that. She does not use mass produced findings (cast collets, shanks, clasps, ear wires etc to save time) preferring instead to make everything by hand using traditional goldsmithing techniques and hand tools. In the case of rings, she forms and joins the band and collet (which holds the stone) by hand before setting the gemstone (again by hand) - a skilled and time consuming process. The finished item is then sent to the Edinburgh Assay Office for hallmarking before being polished to a mirror finish.
Lisa makes every single piece of hand made jewellery from scratch, individually cutting the shapes, forging and forming the pieces before completing the necessary soldering; even to the extent of making her own ear wires and clasps. The only time she uses manufactured findings are when it is more cost effective for the client e.g. in the case of pendant chains.
This way of jewellery making takes time, care, skill and patience, but provides the wearer with a truly handmade piece of jewellery, into which they can be sure that the "head, heart and hands" of the maker have gone.
In response to requests from her clients and galleries, Lisa is currently working to produce a ready to wear range, cast from her handmade pieces. This range will offer the same quality and design at a more purse friendly price.
Lisa received a craft maker award from the Arts Council Scotland and Dumfries & Galloway Council, in 2009 and 2010.
Click here to see Lisa's CV