Here I am in my happy place, designing and making all the jewellery for Graceful Deviant from my home studio. I work with sterling silver, unusual stones and traditional silversmithing techniques to create artisan jewellery with hidden meaning.
Ellen Hooper
Swindon, Wiltshire, U.K
inspiration
My fascination with gemstones, glass beads and fossils was undoubtedly fuelled by wandering the North Laines of Brighton near where I grew up. I would marvel at the crystals in the spiritual shops, stopping to read the spell books and inhale the incense before spending my pocket money in the bead shop on charms and glass beads.
Over the years I continued to collect semi-precious stones especially on my travels overseas and became influenced by the landscape and geology of these places. On a road trip around Canada I found myself fascinated by the meanings behind the different animals carved into the beautiful silver jewellery I saw in galleries by First Nation artists. I too, liked the idea of jewellery having a hidden meaning or some detail that only the wearer might know of.
tools & techniques
I began to acquire the necessary equipment to start silversmithing back in 2010 after completing a day course in making a silver gemstone ring.
Whilst working full time as an analytical chemist I practised and honed my new found skills and begun selling my work both online and at local fairs just a year later.
Very little of my work is made using power tools as I much prefer working with my two hands and simple but effective tools. I aim to make as many of the components of my jewellery as possible. It affords me the scope to alter things, to create individuality and finish them to a high standard. Likewise, I can select eco silver as my preferred metal of choice. The exceptions being some of my charms (which are cast by an independant jeweller elsewhere in the U.K) and necklace chains.
taking the leap
Feeling disillusioned with the long hours and difficult nature of work in laboratories I finally took the plunge to take my jewellery design full time in 2017. Since then I have sold at many shows across the country as well as online. In 2021 I took the decision to make my business as sustainable as possible by investing in eco silver and ethical gemstones.
Fancy A chat?
If you've got any questions, queries or would just like to know more you can always drop me an email to the studio using the contact form on the website or give me a call or text! You can find all the info on my contact page - just click below to head there now.