Sian Elizabeth Hughes

Whilst studying for a degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing at the School of Jewellery, Birmingham Sian Elizabeth Hughes’ jewellery designs evolved to rely on simplicity and sensitivity to the materials, forms, colours and textures.

“I start the design process by sketching out ideas and making paper sculptures that I then translate into jewellery components using thin sheet metals such as Gold and Silver.

Each piece is cut, textured and composed to create an individual and unique piece.

Layering the metals is important and pieces are often re heated and re manipulated to create the perfect balance.

I use hammered and rolled textures and combine different colours by oxidising Silver and adding semi precious stones.”

Sian’s designs take inspiration from natural forms and within this context she tries to incorporate the effects of the particular season and surrounding environment.

“I enjoying creating simple, honest forms and there is often a delicate and feminine element to my work. My aspiration is to create desirable and precious three-dimensional objects that can adorn the body.

Winter snow blizzards in New York's Central Park inspired my first collection called 'Flourish'. The collection developed from paper sculptures that were translated into precious metals.

I often create pieces on instinct and judge compositions on whether they 'feel right'. I rarely measure a length or width but try to combine pieces to make a perfect balance. This leads to every piece being spontaneous and is a fresh and unpredictable way of working.

'Flourish' has allowed me to be playful with colour and finish whilst remaining sensitive to form and function, I cut form and finish all the elements in this collection by hand.

I enjoy making my pieces by hand, as I feel this gives me as much contact with each piece to ensure the composition is correct. Character and individuality are very important to the process of designing and making, as is attention to detail.”

New Designers Graduate exhibition, London 2006, saw Sian scoop the Contemporary Applied Arts (CAA) award and she has since been awarded a Goldsmiths’ Fair Graduate Award in 2009.

Sian has since developed several other collections all based on paper experiments that are all handmade, contemporary and unique in style.