Rock and Rose Jewellery

“From childhood, I was told I wasn’t a creative soul and that I should focus on things that are going to bring money in, a steady job - sensible. And I get it. I was convinced that I could never be creative. So I didn’t actually start doing this until I was in my 40s. 

This started because I couldn’t find the jewellery that I wanted in shops. I couldn’t find anything I wanted to wear. So I started beading jewellery from skull beads - skulls are the main thing for me - I was always drawn to anything remotely alternative or gothic. Sometimes, I’d even buy stuff in shops that I thought I could tweak so that it was a bit more me. 

After a year or so, I branched into making Fine Jewellery. I worked out how to make my rings out of silver and copper and other precious metals. I did an evening class at the Cheshire Jewellery School, and a few other one-off courses with people, and just started to learn. I was fascinated that you could melt metal into a shape and this ring would come out of it. It was great. I learned to make mainstream jewellery first - straightforward rings and necklaces and fun stuff like that.

But I still had this desire to do the gothic pieces that I loved. Actually, I wouldn’t really call myself a goth. I do wear a lot of black and I do like goth music, but I’m more of a rocker. So I just made loads of stuff with skulls on it. I found these Victorian-era Memento Mori beads that I use to cast some of my designs. They’re really lovely and delicate. And my other pieces are based on things that I’ve found along the way. I’m starting to work with more gemstones now - malachite and blue goldstone and even diamonds. Because there are a lot of people that want to express their goth style in a more elegant way. This is jewellery that you can wear to work without it being the primary focus of the outfit. Something just for you. 

It turns out that I am creative.”