Gilbert Macmanus

I produce individually designed and manufactured one-off pieces of jewellery using silver, gold, semi-precious beads, stones and pearls. Items include necklaces earrings, bracelets, brooches, rings, cufflinks and pins. I am particularly interested in surface finishes and colour and enjoy combining materials and techniques to achieve the desired results. Jewellery, I consider to be an art form, not merely a craft, which should combine the natural qualities of the materials with the creativity of the artist and with the aspiration and feelings of the wearer, forming an aesthetic and emotional bond between the two individuals. I aim to produce work that makes a bold statement and is both individual and distinctive while having a freedom and fluidity of execution which itself is contained within a firm and resolved design form. An endless source of inspiration and influence on my work is the timeless jewellery created by the ancient Mycenaeans who, while maintaining the highest technical skills, succeeded in combining strong simple design with a real respect for the materials they used.