Rebecca Ilett’s artistic foundation lies in fine art rather than conventional jewellery design. Her practice explores adornment as a form of wearable communication, blending conceptual depth with technical precision. She employs traditional jewellery-making techniques—often demanding in their execution—to craft pieces that evoke stories and memories. Her materials include an archive of found objects, many of which are not typically associated with jewellery. These unconventional elements, when paired with precious metals, become vessels for narrative expression. Her work draws from folk tales, semi-autobiographical reflections, or a fusion of both, creating pieces that resonate with layered meaning. One of her recent works, Spinning Straw into Gold, reimagines the tale of Rumpelstiltskin. In this piece, she constructs a fictional machine designed to aid the Miller’s daughter, symbolically granting her agency over her destiny.
