Artist and metalsmith John Miller celebrates 50 years of handcrafting gold and silver jewellery in 2023.
He’s amassed a large, loyal following for his distinctive hand punched and engraved designs and has had a colourful career as a rebel of the jewellery industry. John does things differently, following his passion for storytelling rather than trends. He stays true to himself and his processes and style - which has matured over the past 50 years with more fine detail and a complete range.
John discovered jewellery-making by accident, not long out of art school, responding to a casual offer of temporary jewellery-buffing work over a middy at Steve’s Hotel in Nedlands. He saw the tools and thought ‘this is for me.’ 50 years later his passion for jewellery making is still solid gold.
Meeting the man behind the iconic jewellery during Open Studios is a rare treat. He’s usually tucked away in the workshop intensely focused on making stamping tools, designing, fitting precious stones and guiding his young jewellers. The event provides a rare chance to step into his creative world, have a chat and be inspired.
For the last 25 years Yallingup has been John’s home. He turned six acres of weeds and sand into a self-built home, workshop, retail studio and nurtured gardens and now has a second showroom and workshop in Margaret River.
There’s a whimsy and delight to John’s bespoke jewellery pieces, which are so meticulously planned and considered in their design, right down to the last water bubble and wattle flower.
Both the south west and the Kimberley inspire his designs. Growing up in Broome with Cable Beach as his playground, it’s no surprise his cuffs, bangles, earrings and pendants regularly feature details of tropical ocean and dramatic landscapes.
John has brought new life to a number of old-world, traditional and classic jewellery making techniques. He teaches these to his jewellers as these skills are no longer taught in the classroom and will demonstrate these to visitors during Open Studios.
John is a Fellow of the Gold and Silversmiths Guild of Australia, which means he is regarded as a maker of individual jewellery to a consistently high standard. As a Fellow, John has his own makers mark struck on each item of jewellery John Miller Design produces, allowing his jewellery to be identified in perpetuity. His marks are also registered in London. A special 50th hallmark will be added to all jewellery produced in 2023/24.