Inga Reed

Jewellery maker

©Les Reed

©Bernie McCoy

©Leslie Reed

Capturing the intricacies of nature

Inga is endlessly inspired by the environment
Her work embraces the use of texture in metal
She creates timeless pieces of jewellery

For the last 25 years, Inga Reed has lived in the country surround by her two-acre garden. She is attracted to what she terms the evidence of ‘organic engineering’ found all around her. Inga creates pieces which echo the intricacies of the natural world, the forms and structures of plants and the myriad textures inform her designs. Inga is a respected maker and guest tutor at the Design & Craft’s Council of Ireland’s jewellery and goldsmithing course. Over the years, work by Inga has been presented to Irish presidents and English royalty. In 2011, one of her brooches was chosen to be depicted on a series of Irish national postage stamps commemorating the Year of Craft.

Interview

©Les Reed

©Les Reed

When did you open your own workshop?: After leaving college, I started making in the spare bedroom of a flat in Cork, Ireland. I had just a bench peg screwed to a table top, but it was enough. This was in 1977 and I have always had a workshop as part of my home ever since.
How do you research: do you draw or take photos?: I take photos for reference and as “aide-memoires” but the real work begins with pencil and paper as I believe that to truly understand something you must look hard and draw it. After that my eye turns to how I can conjure a piece of jewellery from my many working sketches.
Do you master any specific techniques?: Since the late 1970s I have been texturing metal via the use of rolling mills and templates, resulting in unique surface finishes both decorative and subtle which play an important part in my designs.
What does well made mean to you?: Perfection is unobtainable but I sincerely believe you must strive to make to the best of your ability, and that the same attention should be given to all aspects of a piece. The back of a piece is as important as the front. And the functioning elements must look and work well.

Inga Reed is a master artisan: she began her career in 1977 and she started teaching in 1994