about
I am from the Netherlands and I’ve lived and worked in London for about 20 years. I learned traditional goldsmithing and design skills at the Zadkine College (formerly Vakschool Schoonhoven) and received a Masters Degree from the Royal College of Art in London. In the photo you see a snapshot of me in my studio in south London where I create one-off pieces, small production lines and occasional commissions.
I fell in love with jewellery making at a young age and am still passionate about it today. My favourite part is to develop new ideas by working through the design process. I enjoy working solving technical challenges, research and making design choices until a jewellery collection emerges. Although I predominantly work in metal, I also explore other materials such as plastic, wood, rope and rubber to create jewellery and some times small objects and sculptures.
My work has been awarded multiples times by the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council and it has been exhibited in the UK as well as worldwide in the USA, Lithuania, Portugal and The Netherlands.
Besides being a jewellery practitioner, I enjoy teaching short courses in design and jewellery making at Morley College, City Lit and the Working Men’s College.
I’m excited to share that my first (hopefully not last!) book was published on the 31st of May 2023
Biography
EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS
Little Gems; on jewellery and life, podcast interview, 2023
Book launch, Gemporia Jewellery TV, 2023
Design for Jewellery Makers, published by Search Press, 2023
The Parcel Challenge, At Work Gallery, London, 2023
GCDA Awards digital ceremony, Goldsmith’s Hall, London, 2021
The Re-Incarnation of Any Warhol, At Work Gallery, London, 2020
Connections/Connessioni, ACJ, The Light House, Glasgow, 2020
Connections/Connessioni, ACJ, Goldsmiths’ Centre, London, 2019
Tales of the Subconscious, ACJ + Gill Wing Jewellery, London, 2019
Centenary Exhibition, City Lit, London, 2019
Van Gogh At Work, At Work Gallery, London, 2019
GCDA Awards Exhibition, Goldsmith’s Hall, London, 2019, 2016, 2008, 2007, 2006
Tincal Lab Challenge: Jewellery & Technology, Tincal Lab, Porto 2018
I Am My Own Muse, At Work Gallery, London 2018
Blinkered, Brunel Museum, London, 2018
GCDA Retrospective, Goldsmiths’ Centre, London, 2018
20:20 Visions, Touring exhibition with the ACJ, various locations in the UK, 2017/2018
Loot, Museum of Art and Design, New York, 2017
Sieraad Art Fair, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, 2016
Goldsmiths' Fair, Goldsmiths' Hall, London, 2016
AV17 Gallery, 3rd International Biennial of Contemporary Metal Art, Vilnius, 2016
The Contemporary Jewellery Exchange, Worldwide jewellery project and online exhibition, 2015/16
Canary Wharf Window Gallery, Canary Wharf shopping mall, London, 2014
Office Sessions, Collective exhibition at East India Dock, London 2014
Winter Pride, Collective exhibition at Tobacco Dock, London, 2014
Stimuli, Collective exhibition at Vibe Gallery, London, 2014
Frozen Explosions, Collective exhibition at Vibe Gallery, London, 2013
Rock ‘n’ Roll Zoo, Collective exhibition at Vibe Gallery, London, 2012
Interior Hysteria, Collective exhibition at Palatine Bar & Gallery, London, 2012
Degree Show, Royal College of Art, London 2011
Interim Show, Royal College of Art, London 2011, 2010
Effe Kijken (Let’s Have a Look), Collective exhibition at Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen, 2011, 2010
Sloth, Performance show at Purple Turtle Club Camden, London, 2010
Melody, Collective jewellery exhibition at SDC Gallery, London, 2009
A Venetian Affair, Fashion Show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London, 2009
Sieraad Art Fair, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2008
Design Show, Liverpool, 2008
Treasure at the Tower, London Jewellery Week London, 2008
Window Showcase, Sarah May Jewellery, London, 2008
Whispers, Collective exhibition at Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham, 2008
Origin, Retail show at Somerset house, London, 2008, 2007
Stone Gallery, British Designer Jewellery Group collective exhibition, Oxfordshire, 2007
Bright Ideas, Collective exhibition at Craft Central, London, 2007
EDUCATION
Westminster University, CertEd/Post Graduate Certificate in Education, 2013-2015
Royal College of Art, MA, Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery, London, 2009-2011
De Vakschool, Diploma, Goldsmithing, the Netherlands, 1996-2000
De Vakschool, Certificate, 3D Design, the Netherlands, 1998-1999
AWARDS
Craftsmanship and Design Awards, Awarded by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, 2021
Craftsmanship and Design Awards, Awarded by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, 2016
Goldsmith’s Fair graduate bursary, 2016
London Jewellery Exports bursary, 2008
Bright Ideas Award, Awarded by Craft Central and Sponsored by Deutsche Bank, 2007
Craftsmanship and Design Awards, Awarded by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, 2007
Craftsmanship and Design Awards, Awarded by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, 2006
Student prize, commissioned design of the ‘Quality Trophy’ for the Zadkine Education Group, 1999
Student prize, 2nd prize for the design of the AMN AMRO Bank ‘Euro Trophy’, 1998