Rachael Plassard

My work reinterprets traditional ornament, taking inspiration from highly decorative styles throughout history. Within each piece I weave personal narratives and symbolism, creating magical jewellery evoking memories and connection.

I often work intuitively, marking out and piercing by hand, allowing myself to be absorbed in the flow of making. I take a maximalist approach to my work by layering up decorative surfaces and combining a mixture of techniques, etching, roller printing, keum boo, gold plating and oxidising.  These combinations result in a richness and opulence, and what at first glance might look like a Greek headdress, or a baroque frame, on closer inspection is imbued with a contemporary aesthetic.

It is only at the end that the piece comes to life, when I lift, twist, and form the metal, a delightful and satisfying process of experimentation and discovery.

A woman in a striped sweater and apron holds a decorative ring design she is working on, under a lamp in a cluttered workshop.

Rachael has been making jewellery from a young age, learning from her mother and grandmother, both contemporary jewellers. She later discovered the wider jewellery trade, undertaking various roles in Hatton Garden while studying short courses.

In 2022, Rachael completed an MA in Jewellery at the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham.

Her work is inspired by ornamental designs found throughout the decorative arts, with a particular affinity for the acanthus motif. Beneath the surface of each piece, she weaves personal narratives that quietly inform her decorative approach.

Rachael now works from her studio and shop by the sea in Old Portsmouth, a historic setting that provides ongoing inspiration, creativity, and a sense of calm in her making process.