Penny Warren

Penny Warren is a jewellery designer based in Rosehill in Brighton. She began her creative career after completing a B.A. in Designer Craftsmanship at Newcastle Polytechnic in the mid-1980s. Initially turning bowls and small artefacts from storm-fallen green wood, she soon found the decorative qualities of the material leading her toward jewellery. An apprenticeship with a silversmith followed, allowing her to combine wood with silver before moving on to patinated copper and brass.

Discovering anodised aluminium was a turning point. Its durable, permanent colour and versatility made it her preferred medium, offering endless possibilities for pattern and expression while remaining lightweight yet robust.

Her process is hands-on and low-tech. She begins with pre-anodised aluminium, applying colour with brushes, washes, and textured surfaces, sometimes followed by dip-dyeing. Once dry, the metal is boiled to seal in the colour. She then cuts, textures, and forms each piece by hand, combining the aluminium with silver through riveting or drilled connections, often incorporating textures shared across both materials. Penny develops her designs directly in three dimensions, letting the metal guide her. Her work is influenced by textile design, nature, the urban landscape, and the coastal environment where she lives.