Hairy Growler I make silver jewellery the old way — by hand, at the bench, with a saw, a pencil, and a head full of stories.
Hairy Growler is a small British jewellery studio rooted in myth, folklore, woodland symbolism, and ancient culture. Every piece begins as a drawing, passes through fire and steel, and ends as a solid, wearable object with weight, texture, and quiet presence. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is mass‑produced.
This is jewellery for people who feel a connection to land, story, and symbol — pieces made to be worn, lived with, and kept.
Woodland Inspiration
The woods are an old library. Leaves, bark, antler, root — each carries a language older than words.
Much of my work grows directly from British woodland imagery: oak leaves, acorns, branches, hares, owls, foxes, wolves, and the slow, repeating patterns found in nature. These are not passing trends but enduring forms — symbols of strength, renewal, protection, and instinct.
Oak returns again and again. It represents endurance, shelter, and deep roots — qualities that translate naturally into silver and reward long, careful making.
Folklore Animals
In folklore, animals are not decoration. They are messengers.
The wolf speaks of instinct, loyalty, and the untamed self. The hare moves between worlds — a symbol of rebirth, speed, and lunar rhythm. The fox carries curiosity, cleverness, and adaptation.
Each creature is drawn, redrawn, and refined until it feels settled on the page, then slowly translated into metal. These pieces are made to be worn as quiet companions rather than bold statements.
Ancient Culture & Symbol
Before jewellery was fashion, it was talisman.
My designs draw from ancient European symbolism and fragments of older belief systems — not as replicas, but as continuations. Circles, moons, leaves, beasts, and repeating forms speak to ideas of protection, passage, and belonging.
Often these influences are subtle. A piece may simply feel right before its meaning is understood — which is how symbols have always worked.
The Workshop Process
Everything is made in a traditional jeweller’s workshop.
Each piece begins as a hand sketch, refined through drafts, notes, and planning marks. Designs are then saw‑pierced and engraved by hand, filed, shaped, soldered, and finished slowly, with close attention paid to line, balance, and surface.
I work primarily in recycled solid silver from 100 year old coins, chosen for its durability, warmth, and honest ageing. Tool marks are not hidden; they are part of the story. Small variations remain, marking every piece as genuinely handmade.
Inspiration & Place
Inspiration comes as much from landscape as imagination — hills, tors, old paths, weathered stone.
Places such as Northumberland, Glastonbury, and my surrounding countryside influence the work quietly, shaping atmosphere rather than dictating design. Sketchbooks fill with half‑ideas: moons, animals, fragments of text, symbols waiting for their final form.
Jewellery becomes a way of holding onto these moments — turning fleeting thoughts into something solid.
Made to Be Worn, Not Explained
Hairy Growler jewellery is not about shouting symbolism.
Some people know exactly why they choose a particular piece. Others are simply drawn to it. Both are valid. Meaning can arrive immediately, or reveal itself slowly over time.
Every piece is made to last, to age well, and to gather its own story. Each piece is ethically created using 100% recycled silver I have recycled myself. The origins of the silver are apparent but subtle.
Explore the Work
From woodland forms to folklore animals, each collection grows from the same place — hand, heart, and history.
Explore the jewellery, the process, and the stories behind each piece.
