3D waorking with 2D ideas Rhiannon Evans

Rhiannon Evans

Rhiannon Evans is an internationally renowned jewellery designer who has been based in the heart of Wales for over 30 years. She designs and makes unique and beautiful jewellery based on Welsh and ancient Celtic designs.

From early beginnings in the 1970’s, Rhiannon Evans' jewellery has now developed into a family business supplying Welsh and Celtic design jewellery around the world. Rhiannon Evans has developed an international reputation for quality of design and manufacture.

Rhiannon’s distinctive jewellery designs are all hand made in silver, gold and Welsh gold. Her work derives from traditional Celtic designs, not copying or replicating them, but rather using them for inspiration maintaining old traditions and visual conventions.

At the beginning of her career in the early 1970s, Rhiannon Evans saw an exhibition in London of Celtic artefacts from Britain and Europe. She was amazed by the quality of the designs and the fine workmanship in stone and metal, some of which was over 3000 years old. Rhiannon says she felt an immediate connection to the works which linked to legends and symbols she had known since childhood. It was part of her Welsh heritage. She also felt a familiarity with the symbolic imagery in a poetic or spiritual way.

Inspired by the exhibition, Rhiannon wanted to continue the work of those ancient Celtic craftsmen, making works associated and connected to those ancient traditions. She used precious metals as her medium, and developed the necessary skills to create her own designs. Rhiannon explained the meaning of her of jewellery designs by having a note with each individual piece explaining the meaning of the design. This provided an insight into the symbolism and the connection to the past.

Rhiannon Evans has continued over the years to research the Celts, develop skills and techniques so she understands her Celtic cultural heritage and can transfer this to her designs. In fact, We her whole team of dedicated staff are all Welsh speaking, something which she considers reinforces the connection to Welsh traditions and heritage.

Rhiannon's original and unique interpretations of the Welsh and Celtic artistic traditions include using rare and precious Welsh Gold which is mined close by in north Wales. She does make designs based on original Celtic knotwork and traditional Welsh images, but also draws inspiration from the landscape and wildlife of Wales. Rhiannon's work over the years has coincided with a revival of Welsh national identity and cultural history. The subjects of her designs include: Celtic knots, dragons, firedrakes, hounds, harps, daffodils, deer, and birds like eagles, kites and herons.