About JElizabeth Jewellery

My name is Jo Goodwin and at JElizabethJewellery. I design and make jewellery using silver and mixed metals using a variety of traditional silversmith techniques including soldering, forging and mark making.

 

My designs are influenced by landscapes and seascapes I have encountered during numerous sailing trips around the Isles of Scotland, the West coast of Ireland, the west coasts of England and Wales, along with my local surroundings here in Worcestershire. My aim is to connect the wearer with the natural world, igniting a moment in time immersed in the countryside, or mesmerised by a wild and windswept coastline. The collections are inspired from time exploring our wonderful coastline and countryside and strive to embody their spirit. My jewellery is sculptural and abstract but also displays a soft fluidity, harmonizing contemporary with an organic source. My goal is to capture an essence of these moments in a wearable and special piece of art.

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Nature is a constant source of inspiration. I like to recreate and apply textures and patterns and manipulate form to mimic organic shapes, constructing the metal into workable, wearable pieces of jewellery. My brooches are amongst my largest pieces of art work, where I abstract an authentic form to create a sculptural design, delivering an essence of nature. With all my designs I like to explore them fully by creating a collection of jewellery that completely envelops the theme. Pieces range from small stud earrings through to large one-off statement pendants and brooches. Recently I have been working on developing a signature range that incorporates a mismatch and asymmetrical style, giving the pieces a contemporary contrast against their natural organic origins.

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What does being an artist mean to me?

To fulfil a desire to be creative, a passion to design and make, to express what inspires me through the artistry of my work. It feels special to create an artwork from a primary source of inspiration, handcrafted into a wearable beautiful piece of jewellery.

 

​How has your background and experiences influenced your work?

My love for creativity and art started at a young age with a childhood brought up in rural Norfolk, I was always exploring marshlands and seashores, using foraged items to create collages and artworks. This ignited an interest to study art and led me to focus on Surface Pattern at University where I studied a degree in Art and Design, Textiles at Bretton Hall. I then went on to complete a PGCE at Worcester University, teaching in Senior Schools for a number of years. However, my desire to fulfil my creativity took over when I discovered silversmithing. It was a new medium of expression that I connected with and have pursued ever since. Developing skills and techniques to become proficient in this field I produced my first body of work which was exhibited in a local gallery. I then took on commission work and now exhibit at shows and fairs, selling my work in local galleries and stockists, as well as having my own online shop.

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