About Me
I’m Penny Akester, a London
based jeweller and qualified adult education teacher (registered
with the Institute for Learning). PitstopX Jewellery is my teaching business
where I offer one to one or small group tuition as well as jewellery making
parties.
“I deliver high quality jewellery making tuition and design contemporary silver jewellery from my home in London.”
Jewellery
making has been my passion for over 18 years…
“I’ve
always been fascinated by the ways we use body decoration and jewellery to
express our individuality. I love jewellery’s symbolism and how it outwardly displays
our interests and allegiances. I’m
especially intrigued how jewellery can hold private meaning or memories that only
the owner knows.”
I began exploring beadwork and silversmithing while at school.
I turned my passion into a profession by completing a degree in jewellery and
silversmithing at Loughborough
University and have
attended many short courses and workshops over the years. I love developing my
skills, exploring new techniques and discovering new materials to work with. I
think learning should be a constant process throughout our lives and my passion
for discovery and challenging myself to experiment with new ideas is one of the
reasons I love to teach and share my skills. I qualified as an adult education
teacher in 2009.
Jewellery
making is fun and rewarding
“The key
to successful jewellery making is attention to detail, patience and practice.”
I just love creating unique items by hand and being able to
make truly individual and customised jewellery.
In my relaxed and friendly workshops I guide people, whatever their initial
skill level, to discover and enhance their own creativity – and they get to
wear the results too! In addition, I’ve found in my workshops there’s a real
therapeutic benefit from reviving lost creativity and making skills. A new
activity such as jewellery making can offer a relaxing distraction from the
stress and worries of everyday life.
Unusual
jewellery and unique designs
As well as teaching I make and sell my own jewellery. I design one
off and limited edition silver pieces that I hope people will connect with,
treasure and love to wear.
“My design
inspiration comes from the eclectic mix of architecture, cultures and people in
my home of central London.
The contradictory combinations of architecture and cultures that fit happily
side by side in London
fascinate me. Anything from Art Deco
interiors, Regency architecture, decorative ironwork and railings, Victorian
lace, patterns in tree branches or the texture of fur on an animal in London Zoo can set me
off!”
I love combining a rich range of techniques and work with
contrasting and unusual materials while focussing on a basic foundation of silver
and gemstones. Every piece is designed, carefully handcrafted and finished by
me here in London.
To discover what customers say about my work, simply
click
here. If you’d like to learn jewellery
making with me, you can find out about the different options I offer
here.
Thank you for reading,
Penny
