DAVID J LILLY BA(Hons) MA FRSA

I design and make Contemporary Art Jewellery inspired by the 20th century’s Mid-Century Modern and Brutalist aesthetics.

David J Lilly jewellery is made from precious metals, rough and cut gems and other interesting and colourful materials that together make jewellery that will start a conversation.

As the creator of David J Lilly jewellery, I believe that:

1.      Jewellery should make an exciting statement

2.     Jewellery should start conversations

3.     Jewellery does not have to be made entirely from precious materials to be worth owning

4.     I should always make jewellery that excites the wearer each time they put it on

ABOUT DAVID

My journey as an artist has taken me through many mediums over many decades. Jewellery started with doodles in journals, and fold-forming copper. So why am I so passionate about designing and making jewellery?  I had shied away from jewellery making until I came across fold-forming and how that connected with my love of materiality.

In 2019 was when I really started my journey into becoming a jeweller and created three different collections. Menhir was the first and it was inspired by what came to me on a ‘Medicine Walk’. That was followed by Chevron which was inspired by work by the sculptor Barbara Hepworth. Finally, that year I created Outline which is all about the shape of the gems in each piece of jewellery - it’s been onwards from there with an additional seven so far.

INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT DAVID

·      My great-uncle Josh gave me a small pot of rough diamonds, rubies and sapphires. I’ve never touched those gems, though I do still get them and wonder whether I should.

·      I have suffered from anomalous trichromacy colour blindness since birth.

·      My jewellery has been winning awards and selected for international exhibitions since the 2021 with the SkyArts/Lexus ‘In Search of Takumi’ award for metalwork.

. I was a semi-finalist on series 2 of the BBC TV show All That Glitters.

·      I have been designing, making and restoring stained glass since 2000.

·      I am the UK’s only Dalle de Verre stained glass specialist.

. I may be inspired by industrial aesthetics, but I love the wilds of western Canada and am looking to move there with my husband.

1-2-1 MENTORING

David has been mentoring since 2015. Initially David worked with BA and MA students (ages bewtten 19 and 61) at the University of Brighton, some of whom went on to remain being mentored after the scheme concluded. David still mentors one or two University students each year.

David also mentors people working in the Charity sector through B&H Communityworks on Brighton. These professionals tend to be those who have recently taken on a new role and want to better understand themselves and how they can accomplish their role to their best abilities, and make the role their own.

David aslo mentors artists and creatives in a variety of fields from poetry to 3D Design.

If you are looking for a mentor or want to understand the benefits of mentoring more do please downoad the Mentoring Agreement, or call David for more information. Mentoring is a very cost effective way of ‘getting over ourselves’ and learnig how to be totally awesome.

Since 2012 my studio has been in a 17th century barn in the picturesque farmyard of Applesham Farm, it’s an amazing space to work in.

The farm nestles on a hillside overlooking the river Adur in the ‘missing’ (it died out during the Black Plague) downland hamlet of Coombes, West Sussex. When I need inspiration I can wander out of the barn through the farmyard across the fields and down towards the river, or stand and watch the cows in the field next to me while I’m enjoying another mug of coffee.

If you fancy visiting me at the studio you are very welcome, but please phone me (07796-141180) before turning up in case I’m out or running a workshop. I am normally here most weekdays.