Meet the Maker Behind Sue Rees Designs
Sue Rees Designs is the brand behind some of the most colourful jewellery on Folksy. Working from her home studio in Bristol, Sue creates vibrant anodised aluminium jewellery inspired by the natural world, alongside lino prints and hand spun textiles. We caught up with Sue to talk about finding her signature style, taking inspiration from nature, and the creative pursuits that keep her curious.
15% off Sue Rees this month with the code ‘Feature15’
Tell us a little about yourself and what you make at Sue Rees Designs
Hi, I’m Sue Rees, a maker from the vibrant, creative city of Bristol! I make lots of things, mainly colourful anodised aluminium jewellery, but also lino prints, and woven textiles using handspun yarn.
How did you first discover jewellery making, and what made you realise it was something you wanted to pursue professionally?
I was always creative as a child, half making many many things and never quite finishing them. I missed out on doing art at degree level and when I had my children decided that I wanted to learn a new skill. Silver jewellery making appealed and there was a part time HND course at Bristol School of Art. I loved using colour and enamelling, so after a couple of years making silver jewellery I looked around for ways of incorporating more colour into my work. Having seen some anodised aluminium pieces at an exhibition I found a course and learnt the basics of applying pattern to and dying aluminium.
I was a part time primary school teacher and found that I could sell my work at local fairs which enabled me to keep making and buy more equipment for my workshop. Jewellery making can be expensive!. Eventually I plucked up the courage to approach a couple of local galleries who stock my pieces. I retired from teaching a couple of years ago and have now built up a few more shops as well as my online Folksy store!
Your jewellery is full of joyful colour and bold patterns, which really makes it stand out. How did you develop your signature style for ‘Sue Rees Designs’ and discover the techniques you use today?
Ahhh thank you! I really want to make pieces that bring joy to people. I always start with nature, everything that I make is inspired by what I see around me – I love simple shapes and curves. As for my signature style I think that’s always evolving. I’ve learnt that sometimes when I love a design and am really excited about it, it doesn’t sell and that can be disappointing. There’s also a balance with making what I know will sell, and branching out with new ideas that may not! There are many ways to colour and texture the metal and over time I have found the ones that suit me best. Printing with permanent inks, laser etching, and using a rolling mill are some examples. I also hand make all of my earring hooks which can be time consuming.
Can you talk us through your creative process? Where do new ideas usually begin?
I usually start with something that I’ve seen on a walk or holiday so I’ll take a sketch of a leaf or flower and see if I can represent it somehow in aluminium, either using its shape or colour or even printing or laser etching a stylised version of it onto the metal. Some pieces are more obvious than others. My ’Ripples’ collection is inspired by rain dropping into water and rippling out but you wouldn’t notice that straight away!
After the initial sketches I do tend to work better in 3D problem solving as I go until I’m happy with the result.
Describe a typical day in the ‘Sue Rees Designs studio’. What does a normal working day look like for you?
It won’t surprise you to know that there is no typical day! My workshop is in the utility room along with the washing machine so I can easily become distracted! I try to use mornings for making as I’m fresher then and less likely to make silly mistakes. Jewellery making equipment can be scary. I usually have a podcast to listen to as I work. If I’m dying metal there’s a lot of planning involved with dye baths, metal to cut with the guillotine, a steam bath to time, so I’m a bit more organised then!
You’ve been exploring lino printing, and we’re loving the results! What inspired you to branch out into printmaking, and how does it complement your jewellery?
Thats very kind thank you! I have been printing onto aluminium using stamps for a while now. Last year I began to experiment with gelli printing and loved the process and the results. Earlier this year I treated myself to an online lino printing course which was fab. My jewellery work is quite small so I’m limited with what I can actually fit onto each piece. I’m enjoying working on a larger scale and being able to design a whole scene rather than just a tiny element of it. I have loads of ideas for lino printing so watch this space!
Where do you create your work? We’d love to hear about your workspace – and if money and space were no object, what would your dream studio include?
As I’ve already mentioned I work in the utility room between the sink and the washing machine. My cat also thinks it’s her space so will wander across my bench several times a day. I have everything that I need in there. It’s usually quite messy and chaotic by the end of the day as I’m so focussed on what I’m doing that I forget to put anything away and when I look up my bench is full of tools, wire, metal, mugs of tea etc.
My ideal workshop space would have to be a studio in the garden, large enough for jewellery at one end, printing in the middle and textiles at the other end. Fully heated, insulated, hot and cold running water and a solar panel on the roof….and while I’m at it, a deck with a sun lounger or hammock!
Is there a particular piece or collection you’ve created that you’re especially proud of? What makes it so special to you?
That’s a hard one….I think it has to be the Ripples collection that I mentioned before. It was inspired by a holiday in Norway, watching rain drops fall into a fjord. The pieces are made of concentric circles of coloured and textured aluminium with an additional hammered silver ring. This was a design that I imagined, made and sells well too.
If you weren’t making jewellery, what other creative craft or artistic pursuit do you think ‘Sue Rees Designs’ would be doing instead?
That’s easy, spinning yarn and weaving. I love it, I recently learnt how to do Krokbragd weaving which creates different patterns. I love chunky weaving with art yarn too. And I always have some knitting or crochet on the go.
Where do you find inspiration when you’re feeling creatively stuck? Are there places, artists, colours or everyday moments that spark new ideas?
Definitely going to the sea fills me with inspiration. Looking at the colours, waves, shoreline, and shells. Walking in woods too, tree shapes are another thing that I love and try to recreate in my work. I love the Art Nouveau period with all of its curves and references to nature, William Morris is a favourite.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about turning their handmade hobby into a business?
Make sure that you absolutely love doing whatever it is because there will be times when you aren’t in the mood for it but have to crack on! Also don’t compare yourself to anyone else, be brave and confident in what you do. I’m not always good at that part!
Finally, is there a quote, motto or philosophy that guides your work or life?
I’m a woman of faith. I was made to be creative and hope to bring joy to others by showing them the beauty of the world through my work. I love this quote from Van Gogh – ‘Success is sometimes the outcome of a whole string of failures.’ certainly true in my case.
If someone reading this loves your work, can you share three other Folksy makers they should also check out!
Ok, so I’ve chosen a jeweller, print maker, and spinner/weaver…
- Andrew O’Dell – jeweller
- Jenny Robson Design – printmaker
- Debs Turner The Fibre Faery – weaver/spinner
15% off Sue Rees this month with the code ‘Feature15’
