Shining Litha is a concept store, bringing forth a vision within me. Part ancient, part futuristic, I use salvaged materials and primitive construction to express a 'utopian tribalism' in one of a kind and limited edition jewelry.

My work is inspired by the eternal journey of man; through the connection to forefathers and ancestors, from the cradle of civilization to this very moment and beyond, we are all a part of a great journey. I am forever interested in the parallels of the past and future; I see science and technology develop where myth and magic came before as our scientists discover things that ancient men already knew and we put our faith in technology to a degree level with the first cultures and their Gods.

The majority of materials I use are salvaged, usually antique or vintage. Re-worked found objects, ethically traded gemstones and artisan beads. Often handmade, many are heavy with air bubbles, wonky edges, 'not quite right' shapes - all lending an air of ancientness. I pair these with perfect and polished elements which hint at futuristic utopia.

Natural materials like wood, clay, iron and paper are elementally basic and connect to our first moments of man's world on earth, while salvaged metals and plastic give a post-apocalyptic edge, bridging a gap between here and the distant past and connecting with ancestors on the way. i grew up in the 70s and 80s and am heavily influenced by the science fiction of that time (and my childhood in general) so my vision is largely utopian rather than dystopian - there's a lot of pastel colour and crystal iridescence!

Now more than ever before, humanity looks to the stars; we desperately seek new worlds to ensure our future survival. The ancient people say we came from the stars; science tells us we are made from carbon from exploding stars - is that so very different? In seeking our future among the realm of our past, we complete the cosmic circle and the ultimate quest to go home.