From an early age Katherine has been familiar with the techniques involved in making jewellery and working with metal. Her father works as a jewellery designer maker and often Katherine would work alongside him in his workshop.
By the age of 16 her jewellery making became a serious hobby and Katherine sold jewellery to her friends for pocket money. She won young Craftsman of the Year in the early 1990s, which made her take her talents more seriously.
Katherine went to the Surrey Institute of Art and Design and then on to Edinburgh College of Art and in 1999 Katherine set out as a professional jewellery designer maker.
Katherine’s jewellery, handmade in sterling silver and gold, is inspired by natural forms and textural qualities.She uses various techniques to create her jewellery. The predominant one is roller texturing, an unpredictable technique which involves the use of steel rolling mills and natural and manmade materials, such as feathers, leaves, lace and petals. The object disintegrates but leaves the surface of the metal with a rich ethereal texture.
Using this technique involves a lot of happy accidents, but that is what keeps it fresh, and inspiring. The jewellery can be very evocative, the pressing of a special leaf from a place visited once, or grandma’s lace.
She uses this in conjunction with semi-precious and precious stones and beads to create a body of work with sensitivity and subtlety which works in sympathy with the wearer.
Katherine sells her work through various outlets and off exhibitions and she is also an associate member of the Society of Botanical Artists, which has an annual exhibition at Central Hall in London. She regularly takes part in Open house exhibitions in Brighton and Heart Gallery is proud that Katherine has chosen Heart Gallery as a more northern stockist for her new range.