Untitled Document

Making jewellery fulfils a need I have to create objects that hold special meanings. These objects can be worn and can potentially provoke in the wearer and viewer a need for a response or interaction of some kind. A dialogue is opened up - jewellery then acts as a tool for the communication of ideas.

My work references my interest in botanical motifs. Historically these motifs have a long history within jewellery's imagery so are a rich source for reinterpretation and investigation. I'm also interested in notions of place, belonging and the life cycle. I use plants as metaphors to represent these ideas. These are sourced from native plants from the south (both exotic and indigenous) as well as from family ceramics (Mason's ironstone pottery).

I have an affinity for plastic and use it for its inherent playful colourfulness, lucidity and formal versatility. Plastic for me is a valid material belonging to this age, my age. It is an accurate documentation of our time, perhaps a replacement for the precious gems of more traditional eras. I choose to combine precious and non-precious materials to test the limit of novel aesthetic concepts.



	University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand Bachelor of Arts, Major: Classical Studies, Classical Art and Architecture
	Otago Polytechnic School of Art, Dunedin, New Zealand Diploma in Craft Design, Major: Jewellery
	Fluxus, Dunedin, New Zealand. Post-graduate professional development for 2 years
	Box Hill Institute, Melbourne, Australia, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
	Australian National University, Master of Philosophy (Research) candidate, Gold and Silversmithing, Canberra, ACT (ongoing)



2005	Australia Council for the Arts, Visual Arts and Craft Board, New work grant

2006	National Contemporary Jewellery Award, First prize: Jewellery using non precious materials, Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Griffith, NSW, Australia

2009	Contemporary Wearables Biennial Jewellery Award and Exhibition, 2009 Award, First Prize, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba, QLD

2010	Arts Victoria, Artist in Schools, Melbourne Girls College, Melbourne, Australia



	Absolut Vodka, 'Seven Deadly Sins' international advertising campaign, 2002.
	Cultural Festival Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006 , 'Medalling: designed and decorated', invited exhibitor, RMIT Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.



	Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba, Australia
	Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Griffith, NSW, Australia
	Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
	Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, UK
	Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
	Absolut Vodka Art Collection, Sweden



	500 Brooches, Lark Books, Altamont Press, Inc, USA, 2004 (contributing artist)
	500 Rings, Lark Books, Altamont Press, Inc, USA, 2004 (contributing artist)
	The great materials double dip - Object, Issue 46, 2005, p.16–23
	500 Necklaces, Lark Books, Altamont Press, Inc, USA, 2006 (contributing artist)
	The Age, My Career - ‘Ring Cycle’ by Yvonne Nicolas, 24 May 2008
	500 Plastic Jewelry Designs, Lark Books, Altamont Press, Inc, USA, 2009 (contributing artist, published September 2009)
	Handmade In Melbourne, Nancy Ianni et al, Geoff Slattery Publishing, Melbourne, Australia, 2009, (contributing artist)
	Saturated: Metal and Color, Exhibition in Print: Metalsmith magazine, USA, August 2009 (contributing artist)