Lesley Brown – Jeweller awarded VACMA 22/23 and 23/24
The name 'SILBR' came about because I love Germany and German history. Silber, is the German for silver but I still wanted my initials LBR in the name so I decided to call myself SILBR.
Can you please give us an idea/short description of the artwork you make/your practice.
Silbr, handmade jewellery in any metal. I started my jewellery business over 13 years ago after attending a 10-week silversmithing class, and it has since become both my passion and my therapy. I am self-taught and have built a custom workshop where I create bespoke jewellery for men and women. My pieces range from rings and pendants to engagement and dress rings in every precious metal. Jewellery making is my escape and creative outlet, and I love working with customers to bring their unique ideas to life.
What did you apply to the West Dunbartonshire VACMA scheme for?
For the West Dunbartonshire VACMA scheme, I applied to further invest in my skills to reduce outsourcing and take full control of my jewellery-making process. As any profit I make is reinvested into my business or spent on outsourcing, this bursary helped me attend a one-to-one advanced stone setting course.
After last year’s bursary and the stone setting course, my confidence has grown, but I still have more to learn. This funding would enable me to create pieces entirely on my own, reducing overheads and allowing me to produce more statement pieces to showcase on my website, social media, and Etsy. These pieces would generate more interest in my work, engage potential customers, and expand my brand.
I have many imaginative ideas for statement pieces, but outsourcing makes it costly to bring them to life. Additionally, I currently outsource repair jobs that I would prefer to complete myself. This bursary allowed me to invest my time in stone setting, but I was also able to then self-fund an advanced repair skills course, enabling me to offer a more comprehensive service and further develop my practice. Without the VACMA scheme I would not have been able to carry out either.
How has your West Dunbartonshire VACMA developed your work/benefitted your practice?
The bursary has benefitted my practice tremendously, providing me with the knowledge and skills to carry out various types of advanced stone setting on my own. It has also given me insight into the new equipment I’ll need to invest in, along with how to properly prepare and maintain these tools. Additionally, I have been able to take on advanced repair work, which is essential for any jeweller, as repairs are often the foundation of a sustainable business.
I plan to expand my range of pieces and move towards my goal of becoming a higher-end jeweller. I want to develop a more refined collection of rings and necklaces, which I’ll showcase on my social media and Etsy site. By reducing my reliance on outsourcing, I can save for additional courses in the future, such as sand casting and wax carving, which will further broaden the range of jewellery I’m able to offer.
