Sense of Islay

My creative practice explores jewellery as a sensory language. Returning to the Isle of Islay, I became more aware of the body in relation to place. How a landscape can be understood through touch before thought and language come into play. This collection emerged from moments of touch. Where the island was felt just as much as it was seen. I was drawn to unusual and intriguing elements within the island, the smooth yet irregular indentations of the hag stones created by erosion, the alternating textures of the seaweed and the gritty sand pressing against my skin. These experiences grounded me in the present, creating an instinctive connection between body, material, and place.

This collection focuses on foraging and encounters I have experienced, transforming into wearable designs. I work intuitively, allowing materials and forms to naturally come together as they would in a natural environment. The pieces are not only worn on the body but felt, held, and explored, encouraging a personal sensory approach. While my wider practice will explore all the five senses, this collection begins with touch. I aim to share my experience of Islay as a series of sensations.