About Matthew Read
Jewellery shaped by metal, nature and a fascination with making
My journey into jewellery began with engineering. After training as an engineer and gaining my City & Guilds in Fabrication of Metals, I discovered how naturally my technical skills could be transferred into jewellery making.
I have always enjoyed understanding how things are made, working with materials and finding ways of turning an idea into a physical object. Skills such as soldering, forming and fabricating metal became the foundation for my jewellery practice.
I'm a I am a jewellery designer and silver and goldsmith working from my studio in Lincolnshire, where I create sculpture’s and distinctive jewellery in silver, gold and copper, bronze.
My inspiration comes from a mixture of the natural world, the landscape around me and the materials themselves.
During my time living and working in Glastonbury, I was surrounded by other creative people and by places steeped in history, including Glastonbury Tor and the ancient landscape around Avebury.
Mountain climbing in Wales and beachcombing have also influenced my work. I am drawn to natural textures, weathered surfaces, organic shapes and the unexpected forms that can be found in nature.
I enjoy exploring the contrast between precious and base metals, working with gold, silver and copper alongside unusual natural materials and stones.
I have a particular fascination with raw and uncut materials, including meteorites, moldavite, tourmaline, ruby, sapphire, garnet and many others. I enjoy allowing the natural character, colour and texture of these materials to become part of the design rather than simply using them as decoration.
Explore my collection of handmade jewellery, or get in touch to discuss a unique commission.
My precious metal work is hallmarked through the Edinburgh Assay Office.