Metal Mermaids

The image shows four silver pendants in a row. They are all made of silver, in two parts with a hinged waist and a fish tail. Some have blinking eyes retrieved from old dolls, others the nose and mouth taken from old dolls. The bottom halves are shaped like fish tails and have scales etched on to them.

This is an evolving collection of jewels inspired by women that wild swim, mythical mermaids and ridiculous plastic baby dolls.

The dolls carry such sentiment, they are such lovely caricatures that morph perfectly for this concept. Mermaids such romance and a little tragedy. Women that wild swim – well they are pretty crazy if you ask me but I’m really totally in awe of them and their relationship with the water – Hardcore Mermaids!

Using a range of metals, patinas, reclaimed doll parts, precious and non-precious stones I will explore this theme.

Mermen are rarely referenced, likewise it’s quite unusual to find a male baby doll – something to ponder. Please scroll down to find out more about the collection.

The image shows a page from a sketch book with a number of pencil drawings of jewellery,

The image shows a page from my sketchbook.
Like most of my work, this concept will evolve and eventually take on a new direction. Much of it evolves rather than being pre-planned which is the way I prefer to work.
What I like about it so far is the challenge of creating hollow forms which are full of intention. Working with textures and playing with etching is really exciting, I really love the opportunity to include text in the work.

Hardcore Mermaids

A fish shaped silver pendant, with the nose and mouth of a doll with an amber stone in its mouth. The tail is etched with scales and it has a hinge between its head and tail.
Hardcore Mermaid – click the image to find out more

The Blinker

This image shows a pendant made from silver and copper in two parts which is hinged in the middle. The top section is a head with a dolls blinking eye, the bottom section is a fish tail with etched scales.
Silver and copper hollow form with rescued dolls eye

Blue Lady
Fish

Etched silver and copper with a watery patina

Prize Seeker

This image shows a large silver pendant with a dolls eye set in the middle. It has two sections that are hinged together and has a dark patina. It has 3 green cubic zirconium stones set into the top area of the bottom section which is a cone shape.
Textured silver with dark patina