The Rowan Berry Story...
I'm Nikki (middle name Rowan) - wearer of many hats: actress, PR exec, teacher, teacher of teachers and now jewellery maker.
I've always loved to create and in jewellery I've found the creative output I was missing. The making of it is physical and dirty, frustrating and fulfilling, pernickety and painstaking, sometimes swear-inducing and always thoroughly absorbing. The chemistry of it bamboozles me!
If the joy I get from bringing a little, sparkly, wearable story to life could be bottled, I'd offer you all a drink.
My journey into jewellery making all started with this little sea glass Christmas tree and a weekend workshop at the brilliant Central Scotland School of Jewellery. I was instantly hooked. More workshops and regular classes followed and my home studio grew.
I started selling to family and friends and my small business developed from there. I work in my 'real' job full time so Rowan Berry Jewellery is very much a work of heart. My pieces are slowly and intentionally crafted and so my collections are slowly and intentionally grown... Please be patient with me as I run Rowan Berry outwith daytime business hours.
Living by the Scottish seaside, it's no surprise that much of my work is influenced by the beautiful landscape around me. Sea glass, from my local beaches, has remained central to many of my designs. I love its found beauty, its irregularity and uniqueness. Pairing it with the wonderful colours of copper, brass and bronze helps my goal of making beautiful jewellery stories affordable and attainable.
I also work with recycled sterling silver - as a sparkly accent in a little mixed metal story, paired with sea glass to help the colours pop, or as a standalone extra special something for an extra special someone.
The Rowan Berry studio is in my fabulous garden cabin. It is my happy place. I'm usually joined by my work colleagues - Django the dog and my cats Mabel and Mo.
I'm eternally grateful to have found jewellery making. It brings me such pleasure. I hope, in the wearing of Rowan Berry jewellery, a little bit of that joy is carried into the world...