Spotlight On: Sarah Herriot
Based in London, Sarah Herriot creates statement jewellery with a modernist and minimalist look and feel. Exploring contemporary jewellery techniques she brings a unique perspective to her designs, creating large-scale sculptural pieces that nevertheless exude an understated elegance.
Sara Herriot's Escalator ring and matching pendant
Born in Edinburgh, she spent much of her younger years with her family in New Zealand, returning to the UK in 1984. Following a career as a computer software designer, it was a natural continuation to immerse herself in CAD for her jewellery design. She trained in 3D CAD at Holtz Academy and acquired her traditional bench skills from John Cass at UCL. Her busy workshop is located in Bloomsbury, London, a stones’ throw from the Hatton Garden Jewellery quarter.
The splash ring - gorgeous on the hand and a delightful object
Sarah’s intention is to create intelligent designs with a pleasing aesthetic - both as jewellery and as objects in their own right. She takes inspiration for her urban environment, adding her own organic interpretation to the architectural shapes. Engineering and problem solving are a big part of her designs and her creative solutions inform the final piece in the most surprising ways.
Her bangles are a good example. Here she takes advantage of the tension of the metal to create a seamless “clasp”: the mid-section simply snaps out, making it easy to take the bangle on and off, yet creates a clean, continuous surface once in place. As with all of Sara’s work there is a pleasing heft to her bangles, both visually and in feel.
One of her original designs: twist and shout
In combination with traditional hand-making skills, Sarah uses 3D CAD extensively in her work. This technique gives her a freedom of design, generating unique sculptural shapes that would generally not be possible to create by hand. It has allowed her to develop her very individual and cohesive style, and her work was quickly taken up by galleries across the UK.
Her sculptural egg-shaped rings remain popular and she continues to explore this organic shape in her designs. Their new patterns and form leading to the design of matching pendants and earrings.
The epic Acrobat ring
Recent developments in contemporary production techniques see her printing some of her designs directly in gold. Using a technique called Additive Manufacturing - Sarah’s 3D CAD designs come to life printed directly in precious metals. The process is called sintering: precisely placed blasts of laser beams literally melt gold dust into the final form. Once the piece is revealed, her traditional bench skills come in to finish the final piece to Sarah’s exacting standards.
Over the years Sarah has won multiple awards for the architectural and sculptural quality of her designs, including a number of the prestigious Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards. More recently she has earned herself a place on the judging panels of the very awards she has won in the past.
Why not come see her extraordinary work for yourself? Book your appointment to see her work in the gallery.
Sara Herriot's Escalator ring and matching pendant
Born in Edinburgh, she spent much of her younger years with her family in New Zealand, returning to the UK in 1984. Following a career as a computer software designer, it was a natural continuation to immerse herself in CAD for her jewellery design. She trained in 3D CAD at Holtz Academy and acquired her traditional bench skills from John Cass at UCL. Her busy workshop is located in Bloomsbury, London, a stones’ throw from the Hatton Garden Jewellery quarter.
The splash ring - gorgeous on the hand and a delightful object
Sarah’s intention is to create intelligent designs with a pleasing aesthetic - both as jewellery and as objects in their own right. She takes inspiration for her urban environment, adding her own organic interpretation to the architectural shapes. Engineering and problem solving are a big part of her designs and her creative solutions inform the final piece in the most surprising ways.
Her bangles are a good example. Here she takes advantage of the tension of the metal to create a seamless “clasp”: the mid-section simply snaps out, making it easy to take the bangle on and off, yet creates a clean, continuous surface once in place. As with all of Sara’s work there is a pleasing heft to her bangles, both visually and in feel.
One of her original designs: twist and shout
In combination with traditional hand-making skills, Sarah uses 3D CAD extensively in her work. This technique gives her a freedom of design, generating unique sculptural shapes that would generally not be possible to create by hand. It has allowed her to develop her very individual and cohesive style, and her work was quickly taken up by galleries across the UK.
Her sculptural egg-shaped rings remain popular and she continues to explore this organic shape in her designs. Their new patterns and form leading to the design of matching pendants and earrings.
The epic Acrobat ring
Recent developments in contemporary production techniques see her printing some of her designs directly in gold. Using a technique called Additive Manufacturing - Sarah’s 3D CAD designs come to life printed directly in precious metals. The process is called sintering: precisely placed blasts of laser beams literally melt gold dust into the final form. Once the piece is revealed, her traditional bench skills come in to finish the final piece to Sarah’s exacting standards.
Over the years Sarah has won multiple awards for the architectural and sculptural quality of her designs, including a number of the prestigious Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards. More recently she has earned herself a place on the judging panels of the very awards she has won in the past.
Why not come see her extraordinary work for yourself? Book your appointment to see her work in the gallery.
