Designer and manufacturer Sophie Lewis-Smith began her official training in the Jewellery and Silversmith Department of Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland. However, finding the scale and precision extremely intricate and intense she transferred to the Sculpture department where she enjoyed the magnitude of scale and freedom of material and latterly received a BA (HONS) in Sculpture, 2005.

After completing her degree she returned to jewellery making and has slowly witnessed the natural progression towards precision and intricacy; she has embodied a sense of perfectionism that is a steady test of patience. Sophie’s work pays homage to her sculptural background in her three-dimensional designs and overly layered appearance, making use of mirrors and magnifying lenses to effectively distort and reflect reality. Her conceptual vision is strongly tied up in the symbolism and materials of her work. She has sold internationally in New Zealand, Canada and Scotland and has had exhibitions nationally.

Sophie’s jewellery often reflects childhood imaginings and fantasy, creating escapist worlds and ideas that are sometimes much more comfortable and romantic then the real world – jewellery object art that echoes ones internal world. Her jewellery encourages its audience to take a closer look, to see that there is much more to it, and life at large, than that which meets the eye. At large Sophie views her work as playful with a cheeky encouragement to not take life too seriously nor forget your dreams and fantasies.

Group Exhibitions

May 2010 | Once Upon A Time, Form Gallery, Christchurch

Nov 2009  | Woven Tales of Ink, Silver and Silk, Thistle Hall, Wellington

Dec 2007 | Toi Poneke Christmas Show, Wellington Art Centre, Wellington, N.Z

June 2005 | Degree Show, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland

Nov 2004 | Exhibition House, Edinburgh, Scotland

April 2004 | Fantasy Show Exhibition, Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Vancouver, Canada

Public Installations

March 2005 | Camera Obsura, Tynningham Beach, Scotland

April 2004 | Tracing Shadows, False Creek Park, False Creek Elementry, Vancouver, Canada

Nov 2003 | Transforming Light, Potterrow Tunnel, Edinburgh, Scotland

Participation

July 2010 | The New Zealand Jewellery Show, Auckland, NZ

July 2009 | The New Zealand Jewellery Show, Auckland, NZ

June 2008 | National Jewellery Showcase, Wellington, N.Z

Grants and Awards

Feb 2008 | Enterprise Allowance Grant for Small Business

Education

Aug 01- June 05

BA(Hons) Sculpture, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland

Jan – April 04

Exchange Programme with Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Vancouver, Canada

Aug 00 – June 01

National Certificate, Portfolio Preparation, Cardonald College, Glasgow, Scotland