2025

Lisa Pilley

Artist Statement

Born and raised in Yorkshire to a family of metalworkers, I graduated in pattern and print design, going on to have a 30-yearr as a commercial designer. Drawing on these skills and talent as an artist, I now work as a silversmith designing and creating jewellery in my garden studio in rural Derbyshire.

I hand-sculpt and carve my jewellery using recycled silver, imbuing each piece with a magical story. I consider my work grounded by weight and form, using organic forms taken from nature, each design a homage to the hedgerows, woodlands and natural beauty of home and the countryside.

Artist Website

Shape changing hare pendant , Roaming fox bangle and Wren choker . All formed using recycled silver using both contemporary and traditional metal smithing methods. Curated groups are designed around living and working in a 'ruralistic' setting. Each piece of work is unique and holds the metal workers hand made marks.

Formed using, recycled silver Rocket dogs (sighthounds) have a long history within our country side. Here I have studied their whimsical shapes and characters and captured their speed, fun and faithfulness in a collection of fun pendants bangles and earrings. Some of these have moving parts to add to the charm of the designs..

Freddy fox is on a midnight stroll blackberry picking as he goes. Each of these pendants are truly individual and hand sculptured from recycled silver and occasionally gold elements to tell the tale of Freddy's night time roaming.

Captured in her bed every Dora the dormouse is finished by hand painted oxidisation and detailed metal smithing to form her nest. Dora came about after reading stories of mice to my three children when they were young, the mice are close to my heart and hold some magic for the wearer.