BETH WYLIE JEWELLERY

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Beth Wylie and I am a contemporary jewellery designer based just outside Belfast. I focus on designing minimal and striking pieces to tell stories of the maker and wearer.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to set up Beth Wylie Jewellery?

I trained as a Silversmith in Ulster University in Belfast and since then have been developing my brand and silversmithing skills to create a portfolio of pieces. I was inspired to create my own jewellery company when I was in secondary school. I had a passion for design and wasn’t too sure what to do with it but was a regular at the school fayres selling what I would design. When it became a real-life option at university stage I realised just how much I was interested in design that this could be a way to enjoy work and develop a career that would be enjoyable going to every day.

Why did you want to start your own business?

Starting my own business seemed like a ‘no brainer’ to me. When I designed pieces and wore them out, people were always asking where they could get them. I realised quickly that there were gaps in the market for simple pieces made to a high quality and in sterling silver and gold.

One thing that really struck me was that when I wanted to get good quality earrings for cartilage piercing as well as nose piercings, they were always so difficult to find. 

I also realised that the pieces of jewellery I wanted to find were not readily available or were always too expensive, so I then started to investigate making them myself but with more of a personal touch or learning the skills I needed to do that. Out of this research came my business and my want to make pieces that told the wearers story as well as the makers.

I was gifted a beautiful book when I left university called ‘Maker, Wearer, Viewer’ and to me this sums up my designing and my business – story telling through different eyes.

What/who influences/motivates you?

My influences come from pattern, shape and colour. I am a huge fan of illustration and graphic design and when I get a chance to research designs I regularly get sucked into a black hole of artists on Instagram and pinterest as well as through reading about new materials and trends within the technology sector.

When I have down time, I love to draw and sketch out designs that pop into my head or that maybe have influenced me in my making to date.

What has been your biggest hurdle and your proudest moment or accomplishment with your business so far?

To date my biggest hurdle has been balancing making with another day job. Getting the time to be able to be creative and allow myself to freely design without hitting my wall has been a struggle but being true to your passion is something I am currently learning and developing. 

When it comes to accomplishments it has been being able to develop my name and skills with my clients. I rely heavily on word of mouth and especially in Northern Ireland that is our best advocate so having clients wear and talk about my pieces to other is an everyday accomplishment to me.

How do you manage having a work life balance?

This can be the hardest part of the job as I currently do my making part time so any time I get outside of my day job comes to my creative side, so getting a work life balance can be difficult but I try to think about it in little bits. Making the time for designing and making has to be when I am at my most positive, that’s when my best work comes to light.

What are your tools that you use to keep yourself motivated when you are in the thick of a project?

My best tools for motivation are tea, chocolate and music. Emphasis on the food side of things too!!

When I ‘hit my wall’ in a project I tend to take a walk and try to refocus through listening to music or an audiobook that has a positive undertone to it as well as getting visual stimulation from pictures and pieces that have attracted me , even working out the way in which they have been created and suddenly I have that excitement and passion to start again.

What are your goals/dreams/ambitions for your business? 

Currently my goals for Beth Wylie Jewellery is to get my pieces into more outlets and get the brand more visibility as well as making this a full time job. I’m interested in learning more disciplines and developing my network, to at some stage collaborate with others and use these skills within my pieces.

Tell us a fun fact about you 

Hmmm……. Huge animal fan and would love love love to own a chipmonk some day……This WILL happen!!!

Could you give some advice for any young, emerging entrepreneurs?

I would say always make sure you are learning, developing and talking to others about skills that they have and you could learn. As an artist you never know when a skill will come into use or someone you know will have the answer you need to finish that piece off. 

Where can people find you? 

My website is the best form of communication on www.bethwyliejewellery.com or Instagram at bethwyliejewellery