Holly Belsher |
Born in Exeter in 1956, I obtained my degree in Jewellery Design at the Central School of Art and Design, and an MA in Jewellery Design at the Royal College of Art. I set up my first workshop in Clerkenwell, London and in 1980 won the Crafts Council “New Workshop” grant. I moved to Bristol in 1983, where I am still based.
I have always liked small things, details and decoration. I am fascinated by ancient cultures and their artefacts, but I am also influenced by the richness of the natural world, and archaeology seemed to tie them together.
Through my work I discovered that metal did not have to be hard and shiny, but that it can be soft-textured and organic in appearance. I use reticulation (surface melting), which I think allows my jewellery to look more comfortable in relation to the human body. I want my work to echo the past through its relation to past civilisations, and yet be totally wearable in the modern world. I also like to include semi-precious irregular beads and pearls in necklaces and earrings to give a little colour.