Might and mettle

A life-long designer, I've discovered that working with metal is my ultimate...

I fell back into the arms of metalwork in 2006 after a long hiatus, and while daydreaming about wearing an utterly kickass crown to my otherwise simple backyard wedding. I could not find the head-piece I wanted - I would have to make it! Thus, I was introduced to Art Clay silver and it was love at first firing - with my fine arts education grounded in printmaking, ceramics and sculpture, it was a perfect match. Art Clay and print-making techniques allowed me to reproduce my own designs the way I wanted, and offered up faithful and fine reproductions of natural materials and vintage textures. I was smitten. I still am.

I have since branched out and moved away from working with Art Clay (for everything but the tiniest sweet details every once and awhile) and I now forge and fabricate with sterling silver, semi-precious stones and mixed metals including copper, brass and gold to expand my jewelry palette. I make my jewellery from scratch: I recycled my own sterling silver from years’ worth of scrap and off-cuts, create plate and wire anew, etch my work with my own hand-drawn designs, and build everything by hand. I am committed to make everything authentically one-of-a-kind.

My printmaking and illustration work has also been an ongoing albeit quiet process in my life, and it’s only recently that I decided to expand this website to present that side of my creative work as well.

Away from the studio, I am happiest in the pool, at the beach, on the road or on the hiking trails with my husband, expanding my cooking practice, drawing and printmaking, reading and resting and being mom to two beloved, senior baby cats.

I invite you to follow me on Instagram @theLadySmithErika for a more personal view of my life and process. And cat photos.