Manchester born artist and jeweller Helen Markham Bateman divides her time making from her home based studio, and shared workshop space in Manchester’s thriving Northern Quarter.

Helen’s jewellery is inspired by the contrasting environments of her life. Her semi-rural location allows Helen to submerge herself in wide open spaces; where she can breathe and draw inspiration from the surrounding nature.  Her time spent in the city allows her to seek out another type of beauty, of strong contemporary lines, majestic stone architecture, and the crazy hustle and bustle of Manchester.

Her love of silver, and metals malleability began in her first year of study at the University of Cumbria. Here she received a first class BA Honors degree in contemporary jewellery. This was where she first experimented with forging and anticlastic raising, and ten years later, Helen’s passion, and sense of discovery with metal is stronger than ever.  Each piece of Helen’s work is unique, individually pierced, forged, and raised by hand, using special stakes and hammers. Her stacking rings and bangles have become Helen’s signature pieces. Their limitless combinations of soft metallic silvers, charcoal greys, and muted golds, combined with sparkling stones create an effortless wearable jewellery collection.

Recently Helen has been learning the art of stone setting, and has been relishing the task of harnessing new skills. She is excited to be able to apply this to her jewellery, and to develop a new range of work, with precious stones becoming its central focus.