Focusing on emotive designs, simple shapes and pure materiality Emily's work reflects a deep connection to both material and form.
From her home in Whitby, North Yorkshire, Emily Georgina Jones creates studio and bespoke jewellery that speaks to the beauty of simplicity.
“Your sensitivity responds to an unknown call, a strange signal. Therefore, you may shift from intense and absolute feelings to cruel indifference. Although you don’t know why, you are being transformed”
Find our curated collection of Emily's beautiful handmade jewellery here.
Where are you based?
Whitby, North Yorkshire.
Do you have a morning routine / daily ritual before arriving to your studio?
Yes I try to, working from home can be challenging when there are so many distractions around. Recently I've been taking it slow though, having a cup of coffee with my mum in the morning, a little walk (on the walking pad if I can't get outside) and playing with my cat to hopefully tire her out so she goes back to sleep while I work, otherwise she wants to play all day.
What does a typical day at your studio look like?
First I tidy up my desk because I’ve definitely left a mess for myself from the day before. Switching the pickle pot on and making up a pickle solution is a little morning ritual and the first thing I do, then I work on orders or commissions. I also work for another jewellery brand as a jobbing jeweller, so on on those days I receive a parcel in the morning with pieces to work on, which is really fun because I get to use so many beautiful gemstones and huge gorgeous pearls which I normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to work with.
Where do your materials come from?
I mainly buy recycled silver and gold from a sustainable online supplier, but I also collect old and broken jewellery and bits that I find in charity shops that I can melt down and reuse in my work.
How long does each piece take to make?
Oh this really depends! Some pieces take a few hours to complete and some take multiple days, things speed up the better I get at making them too, for example, sandcasting seashells used to take me all day to get only a couple of usable castings, whereas now I’m more skilled at the process I can make a batch of castings within an hour.
Did you study design anywhere or are you self taught / naturally fall into this work?
I studied. I started in Sheffield on a jewellery making course which I joined for fun, got the making bug, then went to London to study silversmithing and jewellery for my degree.
How does your design process work from idea to finished product?
I don’t really sketch jewellery ideas, as i find it hard to translate them in a 2D drawing. I much prefer to dive straight into making and work my ideas out in silver, I also like to start making with no plan sometimes and see what happens. As soon as you have something tactile in your hands you start to see how it could work as an earring or a ring, I might have an idea for a small component piece and then work out how to use it as jewellery by placing it around the body and feeling it out. Feeling jewellery is incredibly important, I wear everything I make for a while too to make sure the weight or the fit is right before releasing it as a finished product
Who inspires you?
Margaret De Patta, Sylvia Stave, Georg Jensen, Gerd Rothman, Louise Bourgeois, Sigurd Persson.
What is your favourite material to work with and why?
Silver as a material to work with just tingles the right part of my brain...the idea of an element that comes from the earth and is worked into a piece of jewellery that can last for years. It has a life of its own, it tarnishes and changes over time and refuses to stay perfect. The way you wear it affects how it changes. The scuffs and scratches on an old piece of jewellery are little markers of its past life... The person who wore it, even the gestures they made. I can muse on silver as a material for hours...
Do you have other projects in the pipeline?
I love discussing inspirations and ideas with other artists who have a similar vibe as me, but who work in different mediums. Although we have no solid plans yet, there are a few possible collaboration projects in the works with some artists whose work is incredible, which is exciting!
What are you reading at the moment?
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Attwood, but I’m nearly finished. Next up is Re-Sisters by Cosey Fanni Tutti which I’ve had for ages but not managed to read yet.
Do you have any tips you’d like to share with other artists?
Create for fun, make what you love and other people will love it too.
Find our curated collection of Emily's beautiful handmade jewellery here.
