Ever felt the pull to learn a new skill, completely different from your usual practice? That's exactly what happened to me when I was awarded a small grant by the Goldsmiths' Centre. It allowed me to spend a magical week learning stone carving from the renowned artist jeweller, Charlotte De Syllas.

Charlotte De Syllas is a legend, her work can be found in various museum collections around the word including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. She has lectured around the world and won so many awards, most recently an award for excellence from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust in 2022. It is no surprise as her carved hardstone jewellery is unlike anything you've ever seen. It possesses a fluidity and life that belies the hardness of the stone, with a technical exactitude that makes it appear machine-made. Yet, each piece is a testament to the incredible skill and artistry of her hand-carving process.

For a few years, I'd dreamt of working with larger gemstones. Ever since a large-scale stone piece I designed ran out of steam and fell through because I simply didn’t know how to handle the materials. The Goldsmith Award gave me the chance to gain that knowledge by training with one of the best, it was a very special week.

While I didn't walk away with a finished masterpiece (that wasn't the point), the week was packed with invaluable lessons.

Stone carving is slow. Coming from a world of quick experimentation with wax and metal, this was a huge adjustment. Grinding stone takes time and finesse, not brute force. It took me a while to believe, but three broken drill bits later with not much of a dent to the stone, finally my lesson was learnt and faster progress was made. Respecting the material and working gently was a revelation. 

Charlotte’s creative process is inspiring she said “I am not a lapidary artist because I didn’t train in that. I’ve learned about stone by using it.” She's a self-taught artist who isn't afraid to experiment and push boundaries. Looking at other disciplines for inspiration is a big part of her approach; when she couldn’t get the movement between the stones of a necklace right she looked at the way the parts of children’s toys were interconnected. She taught me that solutions can be found within different fields and not only within your field of expertise.

Stepping outside your area of knowledge can be incredibly refreshing. It reignites your passion and gives you a new perspective on your own practice. There's a beautiful interconnectedness between disciplines, and this newfound knowledge will undoubtedly influence my future work.

Charlotte De Syllas is more than just a skilled stone carver; she's a generous teacher who fosters a love for the craft. Her idyllic Norfolk studio, the sound of birdsong accompanying the rhythmic grind of stone, it was a truly magical environment to learn.

I left the workshop with a newfound appreciation for stone carving, a toolbox of technical skills, and a head brimming with ideas. It's a journey I'm excited to continue, incorporating these beautiful minerals into my future designs.

A huge thank you to Charlotte De Syllas for her patience and guidance and to the Goldsmiths Centre for giving me the award.