ABOUT
 

I am a goldsmith, an artist, a craftsperson, a dreamer and a maker. I take great pride in being part of a long chain of makers who have carried on the tradition of handmade jewellery. The permanence, longevity and portability of jewellery provides a rich history in the story of being human. I am proud that my work is part of so many stories of love, celebration and joy.

My work is influenced by the play of line and form found in nature and architecture. I enjoy exploring the drama of mixed materials, textures, and surface treatments in my work. I use these influences to create pieces that are contemporary and will stand the test of time.

All of my designs are made in my studio in the UK. I specialise in small batch production runs meaning that my work is never mass-produced and is crafted with my own hands. I also offer bespoke commission pieces for those in search of unique and personal items to commemorate special occasions and life events. See my blog page for more details of bespoke work.

ETHICS

As a human, a mother and a maker I endeavour to be as environmentally responsible as possible in all my practices. This means using recycled precious metal in all my designs, sourcing precious gems through ethical suppliers and using packaging made of FSC Eco materials. I aim to keep business and workshop waste at an absolute minimum, I recycle everything I can and I use no harsh chemicals in my processes. All that said I am not perfect but I do my very best to be responsible. I keep myself educated and informed about what options are available to me as a maker and promote those ideas and ethics onto my customers and students.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

1994 -1996 AA Art and Design Honours- Moorpark College USA

1996- 1999 BA Honours Metals & Jewellery Design – Humboldt State University USA

2006- Advanced Stone Setting - Birmingham UK

2017- Bespoke Mount Making - Goldsmiths London UK

2018 –PMC Level 1 – MCSJ UK

2020 - Certified Fairtrade Gold Sales Ambassdor

2020- Polariscope - Gemmology Rocks

2020- Gemmology for Jewellers - Gemmology Rocks

2020- JET Essentials -NAJ

2021 - GIA Diamond Essentials -GIA

2022- GIA Diamonds and Diamond Grading -GIA

2023- GIA Diamond Lab - Carsbad

2023- GIA Graduate Diamonds

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1998-2001 Product Design Manager Baroni Ltd, California, USA

2001 Project MARC - Sustainable Jewellery Practices Ambrym, Vanuatu

2002 Project Tibetian Refugee Centre - Sustainable jewellery Daharmsala, India

2002-present – Jewellery Designer Rachel Hearne Jewellery , UK

2008 –present CancerCare Jewellery & Creative Metals Group Therapist, UK

2009- 2021 Silversmithing and Jewellery Lecturer Lancashire Adult Education/ Nelson and Colne UK

2010 -2021 Silversmithing and Jewellery Lecturer Cumbria Adult Education UK

2021- present Lead instructor Rachel Hearne Jewellery School, Glassworks Building, Lancaster Lancashire, UK

EXHIBITIONS

2022 “Heated Up” ACJ Meanings and Messages 25th Annniversary brooches

2021 “Live-Live” Arteria 23

2019 “Wanderings” Arteria 23

2018 “Apricity " Arteria 23

2017 “Hygge” Arteria 23

2016 “MTM & DTD” Arteria 23

2015 “Ten 10” Arteria 23

2014 “Winter” Arteria 23

2013 “Everyday” Leeds Craft and Design Centre

2013 “Mums that Make” Arteria 23

2010 “Winter ” Ferrers Gallery

2008 “Simply Silver” Leeds Craft and Design Centre

2007 “Be Dazzled” Yorkshire Craft Centre /YSP

2007 “Northern Life” Northern Gallery Nelson

2007 “Wedding Adornment” Royal Exchange Manchester

2007 “Architectonics” Velvet Di Vinci, San Francisco CA

2007 “Alchemy 7” Leeds Craft and Design Centre

2006 “Architectonics” RIBA Liverpool

1999 "Alone" - Old Town Arts Eureka CA

1998 “Two together” HSU Gallery CA

COMMUNITY WORK and PROJECTS

FRESH student placement Scheme UCLAN Preston 2007 - Emma Hedley

RICI University of Salford Design Initiative 2008 – Innovative engineering for Jewellery Manufacture.

CancerCare Creative Metals and Jewellery Groups Lancaster/ Kendal ongoing

LoveLinks Project - Community Art Project in aid of CancerCare July 2019

Escape2Make E2M - Non Profit Creative engagments for 11-18 yr olds -2023 “Lancaster Heritage”

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Association for Contemporary Jewellery

Guild of Jewellery Designers UK

Society of Jewellery Historians

Guild of Enamellers UK

GIA Alumni

Ethical Metalsmiths