Janet Hinchliffe McCutcheon

Jan Hinchliffe McCutcheon launched her career as a jewellery designer soon after her degree in jewellery and silversmithing at Loughborough College of Art & Design.
For many years she applied her design skills and knowledge to teaching part time at degree and masters level whilst maintaining her practice with exhibitions across the UK and abroad.

She is a founder member of the Association for Contemporary Jewellery and has published a number of articles in the journal Findings. Illustrations of her designs feature in jewellery making books by Elizabeth Olver.

Her jewellery is bought by private collectors and is included in the mima International Jewellery Collection

Jan is now working full time in her studio, within an artists group, at Platform Arts Studios the former parcel office at Middlesbrough Railway Station.
Throughout her career she has pursued her interest in producing original designs to be appreciated as 3D objects when not being worn.
Visual references are drawn from a fascination with line and repetition in nature and man made objects.

Hand construction and carving techniques are employed to produce unique pieces of jewellery in silver and mixed materials. Each material is selected and worked to enhance their tactile qualities such as the ripple surface of beaten silver contrasting with smooth forms in ebony. Textile thread, cord and ribbon introduce colour and playful interaction with the wearer. Materials are also chosen for their practicality with wood and silver gripping together to form a fastening and textile cord used to easily adjust the length of a necklace.

Selected designs for rings, cufflinks and brooches / pins are enjoyed by both men and women.

Jan’s work is available from selected retail outlets and exhibitions in the UK and from her studio by appointment.

Photography by Joel Degen