DOWN TO A FINE ART
Having spent most of her life in a castle on the banks of Loch Rannoch, Perthshire metal artist Enya James has found no shortage of inspiration for her Celtic knot jewellery, finds Rosie Morton
Celtic metal artist Enya James shows us how to produce jewellery through the ancient Chase and Repoussé method
Growing up on a sprawling 90-acre estate in Highland Perthshire is bound to get the creative juices flowing, and for 19-year-old Enya James – a Celtic metal artist who was born in Cornwall but was brought up on Dall Estate, the former Rannoch School, with her seven siblings – life in the Scottish wilderness coaxed out an artistic flair that is rooted deep in her veins.
‘My grandmother was tutored by Barbara Hepworth and my grandfather got his Bachelor of Arts at Falmouth Art School,’ explains Enya, who says that two of her siblings are also accomplished artists, while her mother has an affinity for painting and another brother is a carpenter.
‘I found out when I started copper-smithing that on my mum’s side there were metalsmiths going back quite a way. We’re all quite creative. When you’re brought up in the middle of nowhere you find ways of entertaining yourself.’
By the time she was in her mid-teens, Enya had taught herself how to make jewellery using the ancient Chase and Repoussé method, an art form that dates as far back as 200BC. Heating metal to incredibly high temperatures in her workshop before setting it in ‘pitch’ – a mixture of pine sap, brick dust and wax that holds the metal steady – Enya beats a design into it, often working customers’ clan crests into her made-to-measure pieces.
‘You’ve got to constantly reset it back into the pitch to make sure you’re not making cracks,’ explains Enya. ‘If you overwork copper, for instance, it will get brittle and break. It’s quite a time-consuming method.’
Hand-crafting everything from intricate copper brooches to pewter bracelets, statement arm cuffs to hair pieces, Enya’s works feature Celtic knot designs – a style she became fascinated by as she learned more about the
country’s rich Celtic history. A simple bracelet can take around two days to make, while more elaborate brooches can take up to two weeks.
As with many up and coming artists, it was social media that first encouraged Enya to launch her own business at the age of just 17. Posting pictures online and receiving a warm reception, the young metal artist bit the bullet in 2018 – and since then she has sought to develop distinct accessories, learning from even the slightest imperfections in her work.
‘My style has become more traditional,’ she says, explaining that she made marine-themed sculptures, including fish and shells inspired by the coasts of Cornwall, in her early days of metal art. Bringing together traditional and contemporary styles, often drawing from modern artists’ designs, Enya aims to create bespoke jewellery that is both a work of art and a fashion statement.
Enya works alone, looking after the entire artistic process herself, from designing and making the piece to photographing it, as well as sending it out to its new home. It’s a holistic process that she thoroughly enjoys.
‘It’s like a form of therapy. You know when you start a piece you will be exhausted at the end, but the feeling of reward is amazing.’
Her accessories have proven incredibly popular in the States, but have also been purchased in the UK, and she hopes to develop her following further in Scotland in the coming years. Her latest creation, one of her first ever sterling silver commissions, is being sent to Australia in the next few weeks.
‘I’m passionate about history and traditional crafts,’ she says, hoping there will be a resurgence of interest in ancient art forms.
‘Nowadays, everything’s just thrown together. It’s not enjoyable. Traditional skill has been lost since the Second World War. Most of the craftsmen died so those skills haven’t been passed down. It would be amazing if there was some sort of arts and crafts movement to bring them back now, before it’s too late.’
To view more of Enya’s work, visit her website www. enyajames.com or her Instagram page @enyajames_.
‘Traditional skill has been lost since the Second World War – most craftsmen died’