Megan Brown

Jewellery maker

©Paul Read

A precious embodiment of woven textile

Megan uses textile working techniques in precious metals to create her jewellery
Her inspiration goes back to her great-great-grandfather's textile mill
She embellishes her pieces with precious gemstones and diamonds

Megan Brown is an artist and jeweller who creates innovative and modernised designs using traditional jewellery and goldsmithing techniques. She has a love of tradition and craftsmanship inspired by her textile and jewellery heritage, which goes back 180 years with her family's business in Yorkshire. Megan studied fashion design at Edinburgh College of Art and her designs draw on her background with textiles. The attention she received from creating her first piece, as well as her following creations, drove Megan to open her own studio. Her pieces explore how the soft qualities of fabric can be translated into something as hard as metal. Based in the heart of London today, she crafts her jewellery pieces by weaving precious metals with other materials such as gemstones, mirroring textile working techniques.

Interview

©Paul Read

©Paul Read

What was the first piece of jewellery you made?: I first made the woven rays earrings, which I still make to this day. These hoops are made of a wheel of diamonds, closely juxtaposed with woven circles of yellow and white gold.
What similarities do you perceive between jewellery and textiles?: The fusion between metal and textiles drives my approach to fine jewellery creation. I grew up surrounded by the industrial machinery of my family’s textile mill, which sparked my fascination for the physical process of weaving. The intricate textures and dynamic movement of the looms are recaptured in my work today.
How do you merge innovation with traditional techniques?: I am always open to working with new technologies as a way of further developing my skills in weaving. I believe technology can help open doors for innovation when combined with traditional craft skills from the past.
How important are heritage and legacy to you?: Heritage is very important to me. My creative journey began with my family’s hundred-year-old textile mill.

Megan Brown is an expert artisan she began her career in 2016