Meet Award-Winning Jewelry Designer Alice Clarke
Alice Clarke is an award-winning jewelry designer based in North Yorkshire, U.K., and the Falkland Islands. As a passionate conservationist and environmentalist, organic shapes and nature serve as the inspiration for Alice’s unique, gorgeous collections. Alice’s work has received countless awards and has been featured in exhibits worldwide, including NYC’s Museum of Art and Design’s LOOT exhibit in 2016, where we met! Inspired by her two homes' raw beauty, Alice splits her time between the Falklands and North Yorkshire, where she designs, creates, and sells her jewelry, runs workshops, and offers personalized bespoke jewelry design services. With Alice’s expert knowledge and leading contemporary designs, she helps couples (and partners surprising their loved ones) choose an alternative engagement ring or create something new and entirely one-of-a-kind! Alice’s exquisite designs are created with precious metals such as gold and platinum and set with precious stones like diamonds, sapphires, aquamarine, and morganites. No two rings are alike.
Alice and I caught up a few weeks ago where we talked about our creative entrepreneur journeys, her advice for picking out the perfect engagement ring, the Falklands, going vegan, and of course—our love of pumpkin! Check out some of our jewelry-focused highlights from our conversation below.
Rachael: Your work is absolutely gorgeous, and I’ve loved seeing it evolve since we met in 2016. How do you describe your work?
Alice: Fine jewelry inspired by nature; ethereal, ancient, organic, contemporary with a nod to the past. Earthy. My friend calls me an “earth child,” I’ve always been drawn to nature.
R: What was your entrepreneur journey like? Tell me about your road to success.
A: As a teenager, I made jewelry and sold it at local craft fairs on the weekends. In 2013 I graduated from the world-renowned School of Jewelry in Birmingham with a First Class BA (Honors). My graduate collection, Sunday Best was a labor of love—it reflected the countryside I grew up in and loved. I returned to focusing on silver after graduating because “not everyone is going to walk around wearing a goose bib.” In 2016, after working all hours of the night and every free moment, I quit my part-time job at the National Trust, a charity and membership organization for heritage conservation in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Working full-time as a jewelry designer allowed me to focus exclusively on my craft, build my studio, and gave me space and time to create and cultivate my work. I grew leaps and bounds by being proactive and creating the pieces I wanted to in addition to commissions. The more money I earned, the more I had to reinvest in my business to purchase new machines and tools, which I named after my loyal customers' commissions. This was also when I began working in gold and platinum.
R: What inspires you?
A: Lichens, nature in North Yorkshire, the textures and tones I see from my studio window or while kayaking in the Falklands. I consider my work “wearable sculptures.”
R: How do you guide someone shopping for an engagement ring without their partner?
A: Typically, they are very nervous, so I try to make them comfortable and be a mate (“friends” for us non-U.K. folks). I’m not “salesy.” I ask many questions like what kind of jewelry their partner usually wears and try to get a sense of what their loved one likes and their taste. I also ask what their build is like and their fashion style. I also love hearing how they met and their love story!
Sometimes I’m told, “all I know is that she wants an Alice Clarke ring.” Sometimes they know what they want, and sometimes they don’t. I go through metals, stones, and styles that they like to narrow down the options. Some come to my studio as a blank canvas, and others come to me because they know my style.
R: What’s the best part of designing wedding bands and engagement rings?
A: Your rings are a small physical part of the wedding but they play a HUGE role as the couple will be wearing them every day for the rest of their lives. The sentimental value is very high and it is very rewarding.
R: I love your ring boxes. Tell me about them!
A: I found the fabulous company, Woodstorming in 2014 on Instagram. I wanted something special and started buying one or two and now we have a collaboration! I include their gorgeous custom-made boxes for rings that are over £1000. The box has to be super special, as much as the ring.
R: I’m embarrassed to admit this but I didn’t know where the Falkland Islands were till you started spending time there and sharing your gorgeous photos on Instagram. It is absolutely stunning!
A: It is such a special, beautiful place. It is rugged and untouched and really opened my eyes and really inspired me. Dan (Alice’s partner) and I lead eco-friendly small group outdoor adventure tours, Falklands Outdoors, where we take visitors kayaking, climbing, hill-walking, and surfing. Being in and amongst the giant sea kelp that grow in kelp forests around the islands, and the swirling tendrils lapping on the rocks inspired my latest fine jewelry collection ‘Archipelago’. Each piece of jewelry is completely unique and is named after a significant place in the Falklands.
If you can’t make it to Alice’s studios in the Falklands or North Yorkshire, you can purchase her gorgeous jewelry directly from her site and make sure you follow her on Instagram! I’ve been drooling over her Wishbone ring in rose gold in case anyone is interested in buying me a birthday present in December…wink, wink!
Cover image featuring Alice Clarke by Jessica J Photography.