DAVID SMITH

An interest in jewellery making started at school and continued to develop by taking a degree in jewellery and silversmithing at Birmingham Polytechnic, concentrating on fine jewellery. David graduated with B A (hons).

Following graduation he worked for 15 months as a designer in the Birmingham jewellery trade. He then decided to strike out on his own relocating to Brighton. From his new workshop he moved into making fashion jewellery using copper with silver and gold hand-worked finishes. Several of his designs were chosen for inclusion in the Design Council Index, this lead to many new contacts both within the U K and abroad. David was asked to design and produce production work for companies as diverse as Next, Laura Ashley, Rayne Shoes and Mulberry. During this period he also continued to develop and produce work under his own name exhibiting at home and New York.

With the change from using formed copper to casting in pewter and building on its versatility, David was asked to design and make a collection of jewellery for John Richmond, the fashion designer. This collection was based around the George Cross. Two more collections followed to high acclaim.

After the third J.R. collection, David was looking at new challenges and sensing a shift in public preferences, returned to making jewellery from precious metals and stones. Combining the flexibility of the casting process for repeat collections and the enjoyment of handmades for commissioning clients, with rings becoming a speciality.

Following a move in 1997 to East Sussex, David continued to develop his ‘handmades’ which since late 1999 include all production collections. Also in the last couple of years he has concentrated on a reticulated collection (Melted surface finish) in Silver and Gold. He combines these pieces with Faceted stones, beadwork and pearls.