Trudi Hunter of Vey Hunter Jewellery celebrates contemporary design through both the traditional and modern craftsmanship of precious metals. Inspired by the mesmerising movement and reflection of light, a series of undulating lines creates empowering and striking forms, in a collection of folds and curves that capture the movement of light. We are delighted to welcome Trudi for her Elements debut, and bring you behind-the-scenes and into the studio for a look into her work and process of making.

Describe your journey to becoming a maker.

I have always been drawn to the more creative aspects of life and study, so in some ways I feel like I have always been a maker, there have been twists and turns along the way to becoming the maker I am today. Part of my journey saw me return to education where I fell in love with jewellery and metal design at DJCAD. It was a very creative environment that gave me the opportunity to explore so many materials and techniques and helped me figure out where I wanted to go with my career as a maker.

Describe your process of creating a new piece.

I use a mix of modern techniques to get my pieces started but at the core of my work there is a great deal of metal scoring involved. It's a timely process but it helps me achieve the best results.

When I’m creating a new piece there is a lot of drawing, cutting and folding that happens first. I love my creative process, it’s very organic which may seem surprising given the finished pieces are more orderly forms. Ultimately, I spend some time figuring out my shapes and forms in simple pencil and maquettes before I commit to the metal. The process from idea to completion is always quite immersive and it is great to hide away in the studio and just focus on the task at hand.

What inspires your work?

I find inspiration in the science and nature around me all the time. The inspiration behind my abstract folded forms comes from a fascination with patterns of reflected light and fractal forms. I use a lot of mirrors, glass and sunlight to create patterns and streams of light that I can film and photograph for sketchbooks and from these I start to find the shapes that inform the designs that I choose to take forward. The way the pieces are folded is purposefully to create a beautiful surface for light and shadow to cast upon.

What inspires your material choice?

Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to experiment with many materials but I am always drawn back to the simple beauty of precious metals. You can achieve so many different styles and finishes, giving a different depth and feel to every piece of jewellery. To me, silver and gold are a natural fit with my inspiration especially when I think of flashes of cold and warm light and of luminosity and lustre.

To learn more about Trudi Hunter and her work, you can find her at @veyhunterjewellery on Instagram. Trudi is one of fifty makers from across the UK taking part in this years’ digital Elements: A Festival of Jewellery, Silver and Gold.

Images and video courtesy of Trudi Hunter