Be prepared to delve in to the mind of a veritable jewellery design genius, step up
Shaun Leane; UK Jewellery Designer of the Year 2010, Talents Du Luxe 2010, Shaun also worked with the late and great Alexander McQueen. We want to buy all of his work, look at the necklace below – it’s very special!  So, lets delve into the mind of this super talented jewellery designer

What got you into jewellery design?
When I was 15 I wanted to study Fashion but was too young to attend Fashion school so my Careers Officer at the time suggested that I do a foundation course in Jewellery design which was available to me at that age. He said that this would be a good way to learn about design.
I began the course and my tutor recognized I had a talent in jewellery making so he encouraged me to take a traditional apprenticeship in Hatton Garden with a company who produced all the beautiful diamond pieces for the High-end jewellers on Bond Street.
Here I fell in love with jewellery; I remained with the company for thirteen years creating everything from diamond solitaries to Tiaras.
Through moment of serendipity I met Alexander McQueen and began to design jewellery pieces for his catwalk shows. Here was where I found my signature style; fusing tradition with fashion.
I then set up my own company in 1999 and the rest is history.

What has been your favourite piece that you have designed to date?
I feel it would have to be the Coiled Corset I made for the Alexander McQueen AW1999 show.
The piece took many hours of work to build as I had to cast the models body in concrete first to create a mould and using this to hand-shape and coil every wire to fit exactly to her body
but the result was so rewarding.
From my collections I would have to say the Aurora Rings – I love the combination of bold colours and the idea that you can interlock the three rings together to become a set or wear them separately.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Organic forms, beautiful and fragile yet there are hidden elements of strength and danger. A rose can be beautiful, yet its thorn makes it dangerous.

I also take inspiration from my antique restoration days. I have much respect for the designs of the periods of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Victorian, and Georgian, they are so distinctive. I like to take elements of those styles and bring it forward into today’s design. It was when I was working in restoration and reproduction that my design ability awoke.

Art is another aspect of my inspiration. I feel that art, fashion, architecture, and all elements of design feed each other. When you are a designer, it doesn’t matter where or what you take your inspiration from as long as it inspires you.

If you could design a piece of jewellery for absolutely anyone, who would it be and why?
I would have loved to design a piece for Wallace Simpson.
Her love story with Prince Edward is controversial yet beautiful because they have sacrificed so much to be together.
It is documented that Edward gifted much jewels to Wallace during his life. As much of my work is about sentiment and romance I feel I could have crafted something for Wallace that captured her emotions and love for Edward.

What are your interests outside of jewellery design?
Art – there is nothing more peaceful than walking around a gallery.

Do you collect anything?
I love collecting Art especially from Artists which I know or have met. I have commissioned pieces that are relevant to my life or where I am at that time – I like the idea of connection to a piece of Art, it is important to me.
Art is like Jewellery, there needs to be a personal connection with the piece, something that you can relate to, so when you look at it you relive an emotion, albeit happy or sad.

If you weren’t a jewellery designer what would be your Plan B?
When I was a young boy, I wanted to be an archeologist.
I loved digging up old coins and pieces of pottery or anything I could find. I am always intrigued as to who owned them before and the stories they held. When I was young I always imagined that one day I would work in Egypt and finding lots of amazing artifacts – this is probably why I fell in love with jewellery as it holds the same mystery.

Visit the Shaun Leane’s website
Find him on the book of face, aka Facebook
Shop ’til you drop