Exhibition: 6th – 31st July 2017

Opening Reception: 6:00 - 9:00pm, 5th July 2017

(Limited seats available,  BOOK YOUR SEAT TODAY! RSVP: info@sunnyartcentre.co.uk)

Esther Eyre is a master goldsmith with specialist knowledge in period jewellery. Since obtaining her BA in Jewellery Design, she has created stunning pieces for notable celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Tilda Swinton, and Ringo Starr, as well as for successful films such as Orlando, Shakespeare in Love, and more recently, the 2015 remake of Cinderella. In addition to these impressive commissions, Eyre also designs and creates bespoke pieces for members of the Royal family. Having trained as a formal goldsmith, the artist utilises semi-precious stones, silver, and 18-carat gold to create exquisite fusions that transcend mere jewellery and transform into refined works of art.

Departing only slightly from her beloved period designs, Eyre has taken inspiration from the swirling forms found in deep sea reefs. The typically bright colours of underwater coral are reimagined in glistening sterling silver, white and yellow gold, shining from the very pinnacle of the heavens. In particular, the Reef Collection was inspired by the Venezuelan coral reef and Eyre’s personal collection of rare seashells and bleached coral which she gathered during a trip to Venezuela in 1999. These items lay in her studio for over a decade, almost forgotten, until Eyre rediscovered them and felt compelled to construct an entire collection which pays homage to their unique beauty. Therefore, this exhibition presents a collection of illuminating silver and gold flora and fauna as found in South American reefs, all fused with the seductive and magnetic power of eons-old gems. Once cast in precious metals, Eyre discovered that their aesthetic appeal was enhanced. The curving, twisting structures develop the perfect qualities to become a natural partner for pearls and gems which harmonise with astonishing tones of blues, greens and oranges rendered beyond the delicacy of Nature herself.

Shown with their preliminary sketches and watercolours, Eyre aims to reveal the hidden creative and visual processes behind the creation of each and every piece. As each work is painstakingly handcrafted by Eyre herself, they are a direct manifestation of her love of jewellery as a captured emotion, which can be seen in her tremendous attention to every meticulous detail. Therefore, the viewer is invited to follow the story of the jewel from its initial manifestation as a watercolour on a piece of a paper to its ultimate splendour as a completed piece.