Rachel Reilly
(Nottingham and London Exhibitions)

Co-founder of Glastonbury gallery Facets of Avalon and graduate from Sir John Cass College, London, Somerset's Rachel Reilly is descended from generations of Huegenot silk weavers. Her hand-crafted collections of knitted lacquer-enamelled copper and sterling silver wire jewellery has brought the family tradition into modern times, while retaining a classical, elegant and timeless feel. Rachel's exceptional eye for colour, allows her to weaves ever-inventive combinations of jewel-toned metallic thread, which glisten and reflect the light as brilliantly as any gemstone. Rachel's accessories (necklaces, bracelets, tiaras and purses) are inspired by and pay homage to nature's flowing forms, capturing the movement of waves, wings, and shells.

For Rachel knitting wire was born from an organic place. In her mid-twenties, while halfway through a degree in jewellery and silversmithing, her natural curiosity led her to take apart a broken television. Drawn to the vibrant spools of copper wire in red and orange her immediate desire was to transform the wire into a thing of beauty, so she began knitting it on a machine she had used as a child. Rachel attributes this 'outside of the box' creativity to being raised without television. She trusts her natural flow of creativity which has not stopped in the past fifteen years and is constantly perfecting her craft, continuing to be as innovative today, with her designs ever-changing. In Rachel's words, ”I'm so blessed. I haven't ever been bored by this medium, and am surprised that the ideas keep coming.“

Rachel has a loyal customer base but has also become increasingly more well-known by word of mouth. Currently showing at Chelsea's Old Town Hall in Kings Road, Rachel has also been invited to display in various prestigious venues including an ex-Sothebys director's new project in Barbados. Rachel's unique hand-crafted creations are exquisite to look at, and truly come alive when worn. When a person tries on the piece that is right for them, both their face and the piece light up. Magic happens.