About Malcolm Morris
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I am a designer and maker of hand crafted jewellery including gold jewellery, hand made engagement rings and a range of silver jewellery.
I have been making Jewellery for 39 years. At school it was the only thing that I ever wanted to do and a very helpful metalwork teacher, Mr Potter, encouraged me to persue it as a career. I signed up for a City and Guilds course at the Birmingham Jewellery School and finished there in 1977. At the age of 19 I moved to London to work for Andrew Grima and later Gilian Packard. Then I enrolled at Middlesex University for a BA and consequently set up my business in 1987. I was interested in Fashion, and presented my work at London Fashion week for many years. I combined making batch-produced jewellery and creating unique tiaras for brides and movies such as 'Shakespeare in Love' and 'The Wedding Date'. By 2000 the batch-production was taking up most of my time, and I was not enjoying my work as much anymore. I realised that it is the process of making jewellery by hand that drives me. I decided to change the way I worked, and have designed more labour-intensive, largely handmade collections since then. Each piece now allows for a little improvisation and is lovingly made with a lot of joy. |
All my collections are based on natural forms. By reducing those to roughly circular and linear shapes I introduce a graphic quality. Using a combination of different metals and surface finishes adds that sort of finesse that makes the jewellery stand out. It is jewellery to be treasured.
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I work from my studio in East London and am proud to say that all my jewellery is entirely made and finished by hand in the UK.
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| I strongly believe in giving young people the best chance to develop their skills. That is why I was a part-time tutor at London Metropolitan University for ten years, and continue to work with students from both London Metropolitan and Middlesex University, giving them work experience in my studio in East London. |
Malcolm Morris
Artist Statement
I have been making Jewellery for 36 years, about 10 years ago I was thinking of giving up making Jewellery altogether, but toying with this idea I, asked myself what I would have to do if I was to continue. I came to the conclusion that I would have to enjoy the making process more.
With this in mind I designed a collection that was entirely hand made, no two pieces would be identical, as the hand forging process that I use, does not allow this.
My designs are based on the natural forms of plants and by reducing the shapes to roughly circular and linear, it retains its organic theme, but at the same time has a graphic quality.
The Apple Blossom collection is made in silver with occasional highlights of 18 carat gold to complete the feeling of delicacy like blossom on trees in the springtime.
The Magma collection was inspired by molten hot lava with a surface full of movement. The work was originally handmade in wax and you can still see my fingerprints on some of the pieces.
Making these new collections, I feel that my enthusiasm for making is now strong again. I think this confidence shows in the work. The jewellery can be treasured and considered as collectables of the future.
I have made Tiaras for Gwyneth Paltrow in the film Shakespeare in Love and for the film The Wedding Date worn by Amy Adams and past clients include the Duchess of Gloucester, Joan Collins and Dawn French.
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