During my time at uni I have found that I most enjoy the research behind design and all the experimentation that goes into a final and perfected piece. I’ve found myself getting lost in research because it can be so exciting with so many possibilities and ideas around the corner that I want to explore and try out.

So, over the past couple years I have tried out many different materials, including metals, textiles, resin, ceramics, leaves, inks, paper, wood, plastics, 3D printing filament, bio materials, uv paints, foams and certain clays. But, I have found myself falling in love with photochromic pigments, which are a material that change colour when exposed to sunlight. Through experimentation, I have found that this material mixes really well with certain clays and resins and it can be applied to the surface of aluminium and some other metals. I came across photochromic pigments when I was researching into vitiligo, as this condition can be both triggered and treated by exposure to ultraviolet light, so to visually demonstrate this key feature to the condition I have used photochromics. 

I really enjoy using alternative materials and figuring out the best techniques for them, but I also love more traditional jewellery materials and techniques, like silver, aluminium, casting, riveting and saw piercing, so I have played around with all of these different materials and techniques and tried to figure out what’s best for me and my project. I see all of these pieces as development, even if I’ve not continued with them, because I had to make something bad to know that it doesn’t work and so I can figure out how to make something better. There are never failures in art and design, only happy mistakes that can be worked on.