Charlie High
From an early age I was attracted to jewellery. I collected stones, shells and pieces of metal. I started to make jewellery in Portugal where I studied a summer course in jewellery design and basic techniques. I was hooked. On my return to the UK I studied at Kensington and Chelsea College and received enough credits on a LOCF course to be offered a place at the Guildhall to study for an HND.
I have recently completed an Advanced Crafts City & Guilds in jewellery design & silversmithing at Chichester College. The underlying link between all of my pieces is the influence of my environment. Many of them have an organic origin, adapted to be workshoppractical and wearable as a piece of jewellery.
In some instances I have focussed on the texture of natural objects and in others I have concentrated on the pattern or the shape. Shells, leaves, flowers and pebbles have been particularly influential, as well as landscapes, buildings and other man-made objects. Even the feelings aroused by an object, place or an event have a part to play in my designs.