The Artistry Behind the Alchemy: My Journey as an Artist-Goldsmith
How a painter's eye learned to see beauty in precious metal
The question I'm asked most often is: "Why did you go from painting to jewellery?" The answer isn't a simple career change story - it's about discovering that both art forms speak the same language of beauty, meaning, and transformation.
Growing Up Backstage: Where Beauty Became Language
The Royal Opera House, London.
I grew up in the wings of opera houses, travelling the globe, watching my parents — a conductor and a stage manager —bring other worlds to life through music. Between them, I learned that creativity needs both vision and precision to thrive. I was captivated by the glamour, but also loved the quiet backstage world, understanding instinctively that the magic audiences saw required countless hours of invisible preparation — the rehearsals, the fine-tuning and the discipline.
As a rather shy and apprehensive child, I never sought the spotlight. I was always happiest making and creating while listening to a story. I liked the grandeur of being part of something unique and special. Drawn to the extrovert performers and the exclusive family vibe they created, but always it was behind the scenes - the calm of creating, the control of planning in advance - that came more naturally to me. Those backstage years taught me that true beauty emerges from the marriage of vision and discipline. Whether it's a soprano hitting her high note or a master craftsperson setting a stone, excellence demands both inspiration and technique.
The Artist Years: Learning to See
Katherine Elder, fine artist, in her North London studio, 2016
My formal artistic journey began with a Foundation year with a Fine Art focus, then a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art, finishing with a Master's in Painting, where I specialised in surreal paintings exploring mythology. I joined another unique specialist team then; working alongside celebrated artist Patrick Hughes taught me invaluable lessons about looking closely, working patiently, and honouring the details that others might overlook.
For a decade, I exhibited in London galleries, creating works that invited viewers into otherworldly narratives. But the art world never quite suited my personality - it required a fearlessness and self-assurance I struggled with. I found myself constantly worrying about what galleries wanted me to paint, making all my work feel forced and tentative. I could never find my strong opinion because I was so worried about the reception it would have.
Even so, I was drawn to the decorative arts - spending hours in the Victoria & Albert Museum studying Renaissance jewellery, fascinated by how master craftspeople encoded stories and symbolism into jewellery and clothing, giving them presence and power.
The Turning Point: When Art Became Adornment
Katherine Elder hand-painted watercolour engagement ring design next to the finished bespoke gold, sapphire and diamond piece
The shift from canvas to precious metal happened subtly, then suddenly. After my first child was born, I found myself craving a creative outlet - something more tactile, immediate, more lasting, more intimately connected to daily life. Jewellery lives on bodies, becoming part of people's stories in ways I'd never experienced as a painter.
My first goldsmithing class felt like coming home. The precision required reminded me of detailed brushwork, but with an added dimension - these pieces would be worn, cherished, passed down. I wasn't just creating objects; I was crafting future heirlooms. It gelled with my personality immediately, feeling like I'd found a world that finally fitted me naturally.
With jewellery, I didn't need to feel "cool" or worry about gallery reception. It all just felt right - easy to get on and design, helping others find their voice in a piece.
Hand-Painted Designs: Where Old Meets New
Katherine Elder hand-painting gouache jewellery design, 2022
In a world increasingly dominated by computer-aided design, I choose gouache and watercolours. Each bespoke commission begins the same way my paintings once did - with brush, pigment, and the human imperfections that make something feel alive.
There's something irreplaceably intimate about hand-painted jewellery designs. The slight tremor of a line, the way colours bleed and blend, the happy accidents that become the most beautiful details - these can't be replicated digitally. When I hand someone their design painting, they're not just seeing their future piece; they're holding an artwork that will become part of their heirloom, creating emotion, excitement, and magic that CAD cannot replicate.
The Katherine Elder Approach: Romantic, Mythical, Refined
Katherine Elder Sea Full of Stars fine jewellery collection featuring mythically-inspired rings and earrings in 18ct gold
My work today bridges all my experiences - the theatrical drama of my childhood, the artistic training of my twenties, the craftsmanship skills of my thirties. I specialise in pieces that feel both ancient and contemporary, drawing inspiration from Renaissance symbolism, Greek mythology, and celestial wonder.
Each piece is designed to be what I call a "modern heirloom" - jewellery that honours traditional techniques while speaking to contemporary lives. Whether it's an engagement ring inspired by Venus emerging from sea foam or earrings that echo the constellation patterns ancient sailors used to navigate, every design connects the wearer to something larger than themselves.
Creating Daily Magic
Woman wearing Katherine Elder fine jewellery, Hippocampi set frrom ‘A Sea Full of Stars’ collection
What I love most about being an artist-goldsmith is how jewellery becomes part of someone's daily ritual of beauty. Unlike paintings that are observed, jewellery is experienced - felt against skin, caught in light, noticed in mirrors. It has the power to transform not just how someone looks, but how they feel about themselves and what they want to portray to others.
When a client tells me her ring makes her feel more confident in meetings, or that her earrings remind her of her strength every morning, I know I've achieved what I set out to do: create pieces that enhance not just appearance, but essence.
Looking Forward: Where Art and Life Intersect
Katherine Elder's North London goldsmith workshop jeweller’s bench
Today, as I write this from my North London studio with my newest baby sleeping nearby, I'm more convinced than ever that the journey from canvas to gold wasn't a departure from art - it was an evolution toward a more intimate, more lasting form of beauty.
Every hand-painted design, every carefully set stone, every polished surface reflects my belief that jewellery should be more than decoration. It should be a daily reminder of your own story, your own strength, your own unique beauty.
If you're drawn to pieces that blend artistic vision with masterful craft, I'd love to start a conversation about creating something meaningful for you.
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