Starting your Jewellery or Precious Metalwork Business with Megan Brown, Clio Saskia and Darren Sherwood

In this online talk hear from three Goldsmiths’ Centre alumni Megan Brown, Clio Saskia and Darren Sherwood who have taken part in the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s programmes including Getting Started, Shine and Gold Membership, in conversation with Public Programme Manager Charlotte Dew. They discuss their developmental journeys and share what they have learnt along the way. 

This online talk was held by the Goldsmiths’ Centre in July 2021 in partnership with New Designers.

Megan Brown began her career studying fashion design at Edinburgh College of Art. Her first introduction to jewellery was from a local jeweller who offered to teach her how to create a piece for herself. Her designs instantly caught attention, with subsequent one-off creations and the decision to launch her own brand ‘Megan Brown Jewellery’. Today her designs draw on her background in fashion, and an intuitive instinct she utilises in her bespoke creations.

Clio Saskia studied contemporary Sculpture at Camberwell College of Arts before escaping to the Australian outback where she spent a year learning from a Master Jeweller and mining sapphire and precious gemstones - many of which she uses in her fine jewellery designs. Since starting her business in 2018, Clio has won a number of awards for her playful designs and launched her first collection after completing the year-long incubation course, Setting Out, at the Goldsmiths Centre. Clio’s work is inspired by weird and wonderful creatures from our natural world, which she brings to life through intricately detailed wax carving and traditional goldsmithing techniques.

After studying at Central Saint Martins and Kent Institute of Art & Design, Darren Sherwood graduated with a BA(hons) in Jewellery /Goldsmithing /Silversmithing. He gained the traditional techniques of diamond mounting from an Ex-Cartier craftsman in the prestigious jewellery quarter of London’s West End, Mayfair; and since has also become one of the most highly accomplished and respected Diamond mounters and 3d CAD designers within the jewellery industry. 

Further to his training, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Jewellers, a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.

Darren has spent almost 20 years perfecting his skills working with the finest craftsmen and designers creating some of the most iconic pieces, for the most internationally acclaimed jewellery houses; such as Graff Diamonds, Faberge, Cartier, Boodles, Mikimoto, Asprey, Phillips Auctioneers, Steven Webster, Cassandra Goad, and Garrard.

Darren now has his own boutique, Sherwood Jewellery based in Purley, London.

Sherwood Jewellery aims to make jewellery of the West End quality and standards more accessible and pass on more knowledge of the bespoke crafting process to the public.