By Julie Waters
A LIFE-LONG passion for the natural beauty of the Mourne Mountains inspired local jewellery designer Joel Smyth to create a stunning tiara which featured in a prestigious Belfast exhibition.
The Newtownards designer was thrilled when his piece entitled Mourne Tiara was selected for the 144th annual Royal Ulster Academy exhibition in the Ulster Museum.
For the first time, Craft NI, the sector-lead body for the promotion and development of craft in Northern Ireland, presented a guest showcase within this landmark exhibition.
The ceramics, jewellery and silversmithing graduate was ‘over the moon’ to be one of 16 of Northern Ireland’s most accomplished contemporary designer-makers to be selected to take part in this inaugural craft showcase.
Joel studied at Belfast School of Art and the Art Academy of Latvia before graduating with a First Class Honours Jewellery Degree in 2021. After working with established goldsmiths, the Steensons of Glenarm, he started his own goldsmith’s studio in 2022 with his award winning collection Tactility.
The talented goldsmith explained how he combined his love for the County Down mountains with his skill for creating beautiful pieces of jewellery to create his Mourne Collection.
“Our mum and dad always took us up the Mournes, but it was back when I was 11 or 12, along with my brother and two friends, that we asked if we could go camping on our own,” said Joel.
“From that point on I have loved camping in the Mournes; if I am not in the workshop the chances are that is where I will be, they are a very special place to me.”
However, it was after Joel was awarded a council arts bursary that his Mourne Mountains inspired jewellery first came to life.
“I was awarded a council arts bursary that allowed me to spend a week at the Tyrone Gutherie Centre in Monaghan and I designed the tiara when I was there,” he said.
“I then spent another year refining the design before I made it in January 2024. It is made of sterling silver with a five diamond design based around the Mourne Mountains.
“If you are standing in Dundrum Bay and you look up towards the mountains, the silhouette of the Mournes is the shape of the tiara.
“Every mountain, every valley, every contour of the hills is represented in silver. I made the tiara in January last year and the collection was inspired around it with the silhouette of the mountains.”
Following on from creating the tiara, Joel went on to develop the Mourne Collection that includes pendants and a selection of rings and tiepins. On some pieces, nine carat gold has been used along the ridgeline of the mountains, to represent the sun highlighting the peaks.
Mourne granite has been used to add texture, while diamonds, amethysts and emeralds represent the stars above the mountains as well as the purple blooming heather.
Said Joel: “The tiara is for sale, but I anticipate the market to be very small, so I would like to offer it for hire for weddings. So if there is a bride from the County Down area, just imagine the Mourne Mountains as a tiara.”
The designer was thrilled when his tiara was chosen to be included in the 144th Royal Ulster Academy exhibition saying: “I am delighted. I am over the moon to be one of just 16 designer-makers selected.
“This is the first time the Royal Ulster Academy has ever included craft in 144 years of the institution, so it is great to be part of this inaugural exhibition.”
Joel is certainly enjoying his career as a goldsmith. “It is what God has given me to do,” he said. “I have the skill in my hands, and a lot of skills still to get, but when I sit down with the metal it feels right to make jewellery with it. If I can make beautiful things for people to wear, then I am happy.”
For more information about the Mourne Collection log on to: www.joelsmyth.co.uk.
