“I believe that the characteristics of the material should dictate form; it’s important to me that my designs demonstrate a sympathy for the metal while exploring the limits and boundaries it presents”.

Jewellery designer/maker Glenis Boote produces strong sculptural pieces influenced both by her love of the West Sussex countryside that surrounds her home, and by the work and philosophy of William Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement. “Many of my designs start from a direct observation of the flowers and plants in my garden.  I then try to ensure that there is an honesty in the craft and construction that remains true to Arts & Craft principles.

For me, jewellery should signify more than the intrinsic value of precious materials; it should reflect something of both the maker and the owner, and impart a pleasure each time it is worn.   I believe that the economic issues of the past couple of years are leading to a cultural shift, to a change in emphasis; people are once again beginning to appreciate the hand-made, hand-crafted over the mass produced, and to recognise the value of  the individual  over conforming to a uniform look dictated primarily by retail interests.”

Anti-clastic raising is a technique that features in much of her work, creating curving three dimensional organic shapes through hand forming.  The ‘touch of gold’ range focusses on introducing surface decoration, using etching or roll printing  combined with pure gold through the ancient korean technique of Keum Bo.  

Glenis trained at Northbrook College in Worthing, and subsequently studied and developed further skills at West Dean with Sarah Macrae, and anti-clastic techniques with Jenny Edge, Irish Silversmith Brian Clark, Benjamin Storch and Cynthia Eid.

Glenis is currently experimenting with Argentium silver, whose properties complement the forming techniques of anti-clastic raising.

Glenis’s work is on show at Chalk Gallery, Lewes, where she is a member and director of the artist run gallery and at Mettle studios, Angmering from where she works part-time.