Ickworth Exhibition 2025 - Spotlight on the Jewellers

This summer, Suffolk Craft Society returns to the magnificent Ickworth Estate for a major exhibition celebrating contemporary craft. Coinciding with the start of Heritage Week, the exhibition responds to the theme ‘Ickworth on the World Stage’, and features many disciplines. Today we are highlighting the jewellers whose work blends traditional skill, bold design, and individual expression. 

 

Alison Dane brings a unique approach to jewellery through her use of hand-printed and decorated paper. Drawing inspiration from photography and gardening, she creates vibrant, lightweight pieces that are both stylish and durable. Using techniques such as monoprinting, sponging, and staining, Alison’s work is a celebration of colour and simplicity, designed to complement both everyday wear and more formal looks. 

 

Susi Hines explores transformation, pattern, and movement in her meticulously crafted pieces. Smelting her own gold alloys to achieve subtle colour shifts, she hand-builds intricate, articulated forms that reflect the rhythms and impermanence of the natural world. Her Mutabilis Ring Collection, featuring changeable centre rings, is registered with the UK Patent Office and exemplifies her innovative approach. Susi works closely with clients on commissions, creating deeply personal pieces that often mark meaningful moments. 

 

Diane Levitt, a silversmith working from Constable Country, finds endless inspiration in nature. Using recycled and ethically sourced materials, she creates one-of-a-kind pieces that incorporate enamels, stones, and even sun-bleached coral collected from beach walks. Diane’s handmade jewellery often carries a story, shaped by memory and material, and she enjoys working collaboratively with clients to craft items of lasting sentimental value. 

 

Helen Smith, a Suffolk-based jeweller with over 30 years of experience, specialises in Mokume Gane, a traditional Japanese metalworking technique that produces intricate, woodgrain-like patterns in metal. Her elegant jewellery, often accented with 18ct gold and gemstones, is complemented by her work in Cloisonné Enamel, a meticulous technique using fine wires and vibrant enamel to achieve luminous, patterned surfaces. Helen also runs workshops, sharing her deep knowledge of heritage techniques with emerging makers. 

 

See these artists and many others at Ickworth house this summer. 

 

More information here >>