Claire Troughton - Jeweller

                      

Artist Statement 

British designer Claire Troughton’s stunning jewellery collections are all handmade in her workshop in Chester, drawing inspiration from the glorious Cheshire landscape that surrounds her, as well as travels further afield. She takes great delight in the sculptural plants and tiny creatures of the great British countryside and is fascinated by intricate details. She makes each original piece by hand in sterling silver, using traditional goldsmithing techniques. Claire’s jewellery is both feminine and collectible and above all is a joy to wear. Collections are launched annually and are made in silver or gold with tiny elements often highlighted by the combination of the two, creating a gorgeous warmth and personality to the work.

Claire’s fascination with nature began on woodland walks in Yorkshire as a child. This was galvanised on an art college trip to Hebden Bridge where she began using the leaves and twigs she had collected, binding them together with grass, raffia and pine needles, to form intricately detailed vessels. This love of the miniature found the perfect outlet at Edinburgh College of Art, where she gained a BA(hons) in 1995.

In 2012 Claire achieved 3^rd place as best designer in the Greats of Great Britain awards (The Great Exhibition 2012) and was a finalist in the Craft & Design Magazine ‘Selected’ Awards in 2011.

In 2011 Bronagh Waugh, Hollyoaks actress, bought jewellery from Claire as a treat for herself and Claire also supplied jewellery to be given to celebrities on ‘That Sunday Night Show’ including Sophie Ellis Bextor and Janet Street-Porter.

2004 saw Claire win the ‘Platinum Innovation Award’. She has also been commended by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths for a platinum design and Cherie Blair picked out one of her designs in a competition to design gifts for international delegates at the G8 summit, resulting in her attending a reception at 10 Downing Street.

What inspires you in your art?
Plants, creatures and flowers of the British countryside.

What medium do you work in? Silver and gold mainly and platinum for commission work.

What are you looking forward to at Make it Up North?
Seeing the public reaction to my work as I more often sell to shops so don’t get a face to face meeting with my customers.

What work are you showing at the event? 
A gorgeous collection of contemporary jewellery featuring bees, dragonflies, butterflies, flowers and leaves.

Have you any exciting news to share?
I recently had a piece shown on the IJL catwalk to represent this year’s Terrain trend. (Multi ripple necklace pic attached). The official video hasn’t been released yet, but I’ll attach a Youtube clip where you can see my necklace at 15 seconds in.

If you could sit in a room with any artist….who would it be and what would you ask them? Andy Goldsworthy….but I’d probably be speechless as he’s so incredible!

Name your favourite quote/or philosophy to life?

Sounds a cliché, but ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’. It certainly proved to be the case in Dec 2010 when a devastating fire destroyed my entire workshop, stock and all the tools I had built up over 15 years. It took a few days of wondering if I would ever be able to start up again until the fighting spirit kicked in and then a hard slog over the next year to get everything going again. After the initial shock it gave me new drive and focus and really helped me to look at my work and where I wanted it to go. It also helped me to appreciate what I have got and not regret what I haven’t!

Claire Troughton will be showing her work at Make it Up North Event at The Guildhall in York on the 5th and 6th of October. 
http://www.artmarkets.co.uk