So first off, please tell us a little bit about you?
I am a fourth generation goldsmith turned jewellery artist who creates bespoke pieces for clients through my jewellery brand Susannah King London. I started the brand when I was 19 and I am now 24 years old.
What led you to a career as a fine jewellery artist?
While working with my dad in his shop when I was younger I realised that I really enjoyed making jewellery, so much so that I quit University to become a goldsmith like him.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
Making sentimental pieces that mark special occasions for empowering circumstances.
How did you get to where you are now? Did you always see yourself doing this as a career?
A lot of hard work went into where I am today. I always knew I would end up doing something creative but did not originally see myself being a jeweller.
I’ve been following your work for quite some time now, what inspires your work most?
I don’t take any conscious inspiration from anywhere in particular. I allow creativity to flow naturally and however that transposes into my jewellery is usually the most honest form of artwork I can create.
I allow creativity to flow naturally and however that transposes into my jewellery is usually the most honest form of artwork I can create.
Your product photography is gorgeous! How do you come up with the staging ideas for this?
If you are referring to my most recent photoshoot, it was a collaborative environment that was intuitive and improvised. I knew I wanted to incorporate fruit and highly saturated colours as I like the idea that my jewells look good enough to eat. So from there the staging ideas between the photographer, myself and the creatives flowed naturally.
I knew I wanted to incorporate fruit and highly saturated colours as I like the idea that my jewells look good enough to eat.
So far, what piece has been the hardest to part with?
The Quatrefoil Ring, the central stone in it was sentimental as it was one of the first stones that my dad and I bought together at our gemstone suppliers.
As you work with precious gemstones, which is your personal favourite?
Sapphire is my personal favourite because it comes in all the colours of the rainbow and has a wonderful refractive quality to it.
As I found you through Instagram, do you think social media is a creative’s friend to finding your audience and potential customers?
Absolutely! Social media can create a micro-community for people who all love the same thing.
Social media can create a micro-community for people who all love the same thing.
As a one woman business, what was the hardest part of starting a business on your own?
Figuring out my design DNA and learning to be resilient were the hardest parts to overcome.
Is there any advice you would give to someone looking to start their own creative venture?Make sure it's what you really want because you’ll spend most of your hours working on it and being committed to getting better, fulfilling orders and growing.
Is there any project you would love to work on in the next few years?
Building my own pop-up shop!
If you weren't creating fine jewellery, what job would you have?
I would have loved to be an interior designer!
Who would you love to see wearing your designs?
Jonah Hill, I think that would be really cool.
Who are your top 3 style icons? (celebs, designers, etc)
Grimes, Sophia Hadjipanteli and Iris Apfel.
