Meet The Maker - Bola Lyon

This week we speak to Bola Lyon about her collection 'Architecture of anatomy'. Gold rings which are characterised by sculptural, sweeping lines crafted in gold and set with diamonds and semi-precious stones. Contemporary, asymmetrical shapes that stem from a fascination with Anatomy. We love the evolution from a childhood spent tinkering with furniture for dolls houses to developing interest in metal working, exploring all the fascinating ways you can work and play with materials.

When your jewellery making journey begin?
I’ve always tinkered making tiny things like dolls house furniture, since I was a child. But my jewellery journey really began at 18 while doing an Art foundation. Exceptionally luckily, I ended up working part time with a group of final year jewellery and silversmithing students who took me under their wing in the metal department. I’d always played with wire but this was the first time I realised how malleable yet rigid it could be. Metal on the whole, had everything that I’d loved from modelling in card, wood and plasticine; it can hold it’s shape and have sharp corners while also being completely ductile, like clay (if enough force is used). I became completely entranced with it as a material and wanted to discover the multitude of different ways it could be worked.

Who inspires you the most? (No rules here, other jewellers, artists or even family & friends)
This is a tough one, there so many inspiring crafts people with such incredible talent. I personally really admire people’s ability to play… John Moore for instance, seems to have real creativity driving his core. He’ll explore forms in different materials, on different scales, in different colours, even making his own composite materials. The process seems like it could keep developing endlessly.
Lucie Gledhill, as well. The ability to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the field of chain, and looking like she’s having a lot of fun doing it. There’s an inquisitive spirit, to revel in the possibilities of materials, that I really hope I can emulate.

Where did you find inspiration for the rings in the exhibition, tell us a little bit about each one if you can?
The collection all stems from a fascinations with Anatomy, I started exploring it well over a decade ago during my degree and found the intricate structures and organic layers utterly compelling. The Royal college of surgeons and the book anatomy for the artist have been great resources. More recent work, like the rings are predominately drawn from the structures of muscles, the layers twisting and folding creating tension and movement even in stillness. The design of the rings can be quite heavily influenced by the stones used, trying to set them in a way that captures motion/ tension/ flow.

If you weren’t a jeweller what would choose as a career?
I really enjoy playing music. Similar to bench work there can be an all consuming zen like concentration, my version of meditation. There’s always something new to learn and the wonderful moments of harmony that can resonate through you.

Please can you tell us a little bit about your creative process?
It’s quite varied. If I can take the time, I enjoy having research days, hunting through
museum collections or immersing myself in threadbare anatomy books. I’m always designing though, I don’t tend to sketchbook in the traditional way. I always worry that I’ll forget about ideas when they come to me, so I note quick sketches on post it notes and have them on a little board above by desk, I can have up to 20 on the go at a time. I find it really useful to sit with them for a while, they can evolve and be adapted when I find interesting stones. When I’m making I’ll sometimes sketch model in silver before working in gold if the piece is going to be entirely handmade rather than cast. Or I’ll design straight into the computer and 3D print a wax to cast into precious metals, I’ll then meticulously clean it up under a microscope to preserve the crisp lines.

Sounds of the Studio - what are you listening to? We’d love to hear about podcasts
recommendations/ studio playlists/ the sounds that motivate you?
Podcasts are my go to, I feel like I’m cheating and getting a free education while I work.
Science and human interest are my favourite. Radio Lab, This American life, Uncharted with Hannah fry, and The Moth to list a few.

What’s next for you and your brand?
I’m just heading on a stone buying trip, hopefully some big colourful pieces. But I would love to develop more engagement rings and wedding rings. I’ve worked, making for other jewellers in the past and it’s such a lovely, joyful, moment to be involved in. Getting to design with couples and make them exactly what they want.

Which is your favourite piece you’ve ever made?
Ohh thats a very hard question.. I think the heart. It’s was a 3D wire work necklace. I made it while I was still studying, probably not the most technically proficient. But I really had to push what I though I could do. It ended up with well over 100 solder joins, it taught me to trust my instincts push myself out of my “comfort zone” in making.

Finally, for fun, what would be your dream piece to make or person to make for?
That’s such an interesting question, I don’t know that I have a dream piece, I try to make things that I’m most excited about as soon as I can. As for a person, there’s so many. I love a strong, independent, witty woman: Sandi Toksvig, Hannah Fry, Deborah Meaden to name a few, would be an absolute dream.

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