Joanne describes her work as Fine Artist Jewellery. The one-off jewels and ‘picture’ pieces are created individually, often with representational themes which stem from her sketching and watercolours during her time away from the workbench. These ‘vignette’ items are rather like framed artworks that focus on one moment or story, giving Joanne’s insight into a particular subject. They can be displayed as miniature ‘objet d’art’ or worn. Designs are influenced by her love of nature, landscape, history, literature, archaeology, ballet & music.
Joanne works in Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Silver & gemstones, using traditional techniques such as forging, carving, piercing and repousse.
Exhibitions have included the highly prestigious annual Goldsmiths’ Fair and Goldsmiths’ North. Previously Joanne has taken part in the National Wedding Shows at Olympia and Earls Court, and has exported collections to Japan. Joanne Gowan sells a wide range of pieces, including one-off designs, from stock at her Studio, private solos events and selected high quality contemporary design fairs at venues such as RHS Hyde Hall & Wisley Gardens, Hever Castle and Cheltenham Town Hall and Victoria Baths, Manchester.
Joanne Gowan has been running her own business designing & making wonderful jewellery for over 40 years with the technical experience and knowledge to provide the very best quality.
Joanne completed her training at Central School of Art and Design, London in 1985 receiving a B.A.(Hons) Degree in Jewellery Design. She also learnt specialist techniques, such as enamelling and stone mounting, at the jewellery department of Sir John Cass College in London. In 1989 Joanne received a Theory Grade A in Gemmology from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, giving her the professional background knowledge required for working with a wide range of gemstones.
Joanne set up a workshop in Putney on leaving College and sold her work via high quality fairs, exhibitions at British galleries and through private commissions. In 1987 she bought her own retail shop in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire which ran very successfully with 4 staff for 33 years. Having moved to a home workshop in Essex during the difficult year of 2020, Joanne decided the time was right for change and therefore in 2024 she moved to Pateley Bridge where she now lives with her partner Martin. Joanne has 4 adult children, two of whom live in nearby York.
My own Studio in Pateley Bridge by appointment.
Craft in Focus fairs at Hever Castle and RHS Hyde Hall.
Desire Jewellery Fair RHS Wisley and Waterperry Gardens.
Goldsmiths North in Sheffield.
Great Northern Craft Show in Manchester.