Sharleen Marius

Jeweller / Manchester

"I make simple organic jewellery forms with rich surface texture, inspired by the effects of time, age and corrosion. The processes I employ to create these effects on the metal include etching, enamelling and oxidising. The imperfections and unconventional beauty, found both in people and objects, is portrayed throughout my jewellery with the marks and dents embraced to help accentuate the making process. These areas give each piece individuality and a uniqueness which give them an honest and tactile quality. I challenge the traditional preconceptions of what jewellery should be through the use of non-precious metals such as copper and steel. What especially attracts me to steel is the industrial quality it possesses and it’s vulnerability to rust. Both metals are vulnerable to weathering which will enhance the aged surfaces I've created when they begin their natural ageing process".