Jewellery designer Isabel Nelson from Preston began her career making bead jewellery for friends and family, and has progressed to individual hand crafted jewellery, using gems and precious metals. We asked her about her striking designs... Where did your interest in jewellery design begin? How did you get started? "I started making bead jewellery in the 1970s, having been influenced in South Africa by the beading techniques used by some of the indigenous people. Initially I started out giving my jewellery as presents to my friends and colleagues and then exhibited at Samlesbury Hall at a Craftsman at Work Exhibition, which gave me the confidence to attend craft fairs around Lancashire. I then decided to learn about my hobby and went to study at the University, a course on design led to my studying silversmithing in Manchester. Upon qualifying, I joined the North West Design Collective and the Craft Council. Working with other artists in exhibiting my jewellery at Art Galleries nationwide." Which metal is the hardest to work with? "Nine carat gold is, I find, a particularly difficult metal to work with, because its hard, unmalleable and not particularly attractive to me." How long can it take to make a piece? "A lot of my work is made up in wax first and then cast, after that, I work on the cast silver or gold piece so it can be worn as jewellery, the actual designing of a piece can either take minutes, days or weeks." What's the most difficult thing about jewellery making? "For me it's stone setting, which is why I don't set stones!" What inspires you? "My jewellery is based on contrast. On a journey to Lanzarote I noticed the lava, molten rock that is forced up through the earth in a liquid form, cooling and solidifying in the air, The ebb and flow of the hot molten lava as it cools becomes something to feel. It looks as if it should be pliable and soft, yet it is completely solid and cooled into these natural forms. I have this same feeling when I melt silver and seeing the texture appear as it cools. I like to emphasise the contrast of this rough, textured silver with well-defined polished geometric silver shapes, highly polished gold and gem beads. The initial creative flow from the lava has metamorphosed into more contrasting designs, utilising different textures and precious materials." Which piece are you most proud of? "The last piece I designed is always the piece I am proudest of, as I am constantly developing my work into new and different ideas, so, in a couple of years time when I have designed more new pieces, then these will become the pieces I am proudest of!" What are you up to at the moment? "I am developing four new ranges at the moment, a couple of ranges have been easier to design than the others. The ideas can be great but then it has got to work as a piece of jewellery." What's your claim to fame? "I'm still quite new to this, but there is a piece of my work in the Grundy Art Gallery's permanent collection in Blackpool." Which celebrity would you like to design for? "I design for myself, not for a celebrity. However, if someone famous wanted to wear my jewellery that would be great, but I would be just as proud seeing anyone wearing my pieces." | 
