From forgotten heirlooms to gleaming art: Chesham Bois jeweller breathes new life into sentimental gold
Bucks Art Weeks runs from 6th to 21st June.
For independent designer-maker jeweller Alison Berthelsen, based in Chesham Bois, the most rewarding projects are often those wrapped in a family story. Working from the quiet confines of her Buckinghamshire workshop, Alison frequently collaborates with clients to upcycle sentimental heirloom jewellery, transforming unworn, dated pieces into contemporary wearable art.
Her standout directory entry for this year’s Bucks Art Weeks festival perfectly captures this delicate process. The commission involved redesigning a collection of gold, an amethyst, and a solitaire diamond sourced from separate, sentimental family pieces. There were also a trio of diamonds that had been the centrepiece of her client's beloved late mother-in-law’s engagement ring.
‘She didn't love the original style, and because the fit was wrong, the ring sat unworn in a drawer,’ Alison explains. ‘Entrusted with these precious family stories, I was able to reshape the gold and gemstones into a stunning, modern set of three interlocking stacking rings.’
The final result is a beautiful testament to sustainable jewellery, allowing the memories to live on in a fresh, everyday design. The client, Liz, was thrilled with the transformation: ‘They look fabulous and I'm really enjoying wearing them. They also give me much happiness because they’re recycled from sentimental jewellery which seems to imbue them with that warmth and love. It’s hard to describe in words, but it is a precious gift that you’re creating - somehow embedded within the jewellery is the feeling of those gone but not forgotten, and still with us.’
Visitors can discover Alison’s unique gold and silver jewellery, alongside her vibrant local landscape watercolour paintings, during Bucks Art Weeks until 21st June. Her working studio, Coniston, will be open daily to welcome visitors, and includes three other inspiring artists too. There are even demonstrations to see how jewellery, pottery and paintings come to life before your eyes.
Bucks Art Weeks runs from 6th to 21st June and is the county’s largest annual celebration of visual arts and makers, featuring hundreds of pop-up galleries, working studios, and exhibitions across Buckinghamshire. To plan your creative trail, view artist opening times, and find local venues near you, visit www.bucksartweeks.org.uk.