Holly Ryan
Jewellery designer Holly Ryan is entering the next stage of her creative journey with the opening of a workshop and retail space in Noosa, Queensland, that showcases the work of local artists. THE THING I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY WORK is the freedom to create and make, and call it work.
ON WORKING DAYS I’m up with the sunrise, followed by a quick mountain climb or dip in the ocean. I arrive at work around 8am, then it’s coffee, emails and meetings before lunch, and jewellery-making in the afternoons. I like to get home before dark and watch the sun set in the west from my mountainside cottage. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES of my career was a severe case of toxic black mould in my workshop and showroom, which led to closing my Sydney business and losing my team before rebuilding it again on the Sunshine Coast.
THE CREATIVES I MOST ADMIRE include Luke Chiswell, Shades Launay, Lex Williams, Rad Dan, Sara Maria Darling, Sabrina Sterk, Rachel Rutt and Hagon Workroom. THINGS THAT NOURISH MY CREATIVITY are nature, deep conversation, adventure, and great food and wine. MY FAVOURITE DOWNTIME PURSUIT WOULD BE floating in the ocean or hiking mountains.
I LISTEN TO A LOT OF MUSIC: jazz, African jazz, surf rock and older, more classic stuff. A DESIGNER HOMEWARE ITEM I’M COVETING is the Tabitha Hope ‘Sun’ ottoman. MY FAVOURITE SCENTS are the smell of saltwater and sunscreen, or the smell of the forest floor.
THE NEXT MAJOR PURCHASES FOR MY HOME are a cream Smeg fridge, coffee machine and kettle.
AMONG THE THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT are my 2020 Suzuki Jimny in Forest Green and my 1966 VW Beetle. MY FAVOURITE FLOWERS are sunflowers and poppies. ON MY CURRENT READING LIST are Devotion by Patti Smith and Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion.
MY DREAM PROJECT WOULD BE a large-scale sculpture in the realm of public art.
FAVOURITE LOCAL CAFES, BARS AND EATERIES include Blue Plum, Somedays Pizza, Bistro C, Spirit House, VanillaFood, Ricks bakery, Light Years and Paradise Arcade. ONE OF MY HAPPIEST ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR is the opening of my first retail space in Noosa this year.