Grace - Jeweller - Edinburgh

Grace is interested in the effect the sea has on materials over time: breaking down layers, smoothing and altering form. She uses objects found along the shore as a starting point in her work, often incorporating these objects into her pieces. Attempting to emulate the effects of the sea, primarily through the use of enamel, subtle colour applied in layers, appearing smooth and worn looking.

Grace was born and brought up on the Orkney Islands. They lived 3 fields from the shore, so her and her sisters were forever at the beach scavenging for shells, pebbles, glass, driftwood, rusted metal, plastic; all beautifully worn by the sea. Although now living in Edinburgh, it is this shoreline that she returns to, to collect all the pebbles and source new ideas.

Grace uses a range of materials in her work – found pebbles, wood, silver and enamel. She loves the combination of the solid, dark pebbles with the softness of the wood and the subtlety of the enamel. Working with this variety of materials means she can use an assortment of techniques and processes: She carves and sands the wood until she achieves a smooth surface, sometimes applying paint. With the sheet silver she chases, makes settings and often apply enamel in thin layers, rubbing back to a matt surface, often revealing areas of silver. Grace uses silver wire to create a series of varying hoops and links. She does not alter the shape of the pebbles; they are as they are found.