Piece by Piece: Amy Renshaw's 'Capturing the Essence' Earrings

Piece by Piece is an ongoing journal series dedicated to examining individual works of jewellery with attention to material, form and intention. Each feature draws focus to a single piece or small group of works, offering insight into the ideas, processes and decisions that shape them.

In this edition, we turn our attention to Amy Renshaw’s ‘Capturing the Essence’ gold earrings. Known for her intuitive, expressive approach to form, Amy’s work often carries a sense of narrative and emotional resonance, where objects feel both personal and symbolic. These earrings offer a quiet reflection on memory, connection and the act of distillation, translating something intangible into a refined, wearable form. We spoke with Amy about the thinking behind this piece, her approach to making, and the meaning held within its delicate structure.

PO8: ‘Capturing the Essence’ is such an evocative title. What did that phrase mean to you as a starting point for this piece?

AR: I made these earrings specifically for ‘Embark’, a Pieces of Eight group exhibition. The brief was to create a piece that captured the feeling or essence of Pieces of Eight Gallery. I was inspired by the gallery’s iconic Russell Place window facade. Its circular shape and bold folded steel elements, for me, captures that essence. These earrings are a small nod to the unique architecture of the gallery, made wearable in gold.

PO8: Your work often carries a strong emotional or narrative quality. How do you translate something intangible, like a feeling or memory, into a physical form such as these earrings?

AR: The circular shape of the earrings symbolises the cycle of life and renewal found in nature. The continuity of a circle, and in this case, the details found within it. Each side of the earring displays the inverse of the other, allowing them to be worn in either orientation depending on your mood, giving them greater versatility.

PO8: There is a beautiful sense of restraint in this piece. How do you approach balance in your work, deciding what to include and what to leave out?

AR: My work often begins in paper maquette form, so it’s from here that I work through the design elements, adding or refining as I go. I tend to follow a less-is-more philosophy, preferring an understated outcome, as I feel this gives a piece longevity. I need each work to feel just right before it leaves the studio and finds its new home.

PO8: These earrings feel both delicate and considered in their construction. Can you tell us a little more about your making process and how the final form comes together?

AR: These earrings are handmade from folded yellow gold components, which are joined together at the centre, allowing them to float within a gold circle. It takes time and consideration to create the individual components, to align them and ensure the balance is just right. I formed the outer circular shape by hand and matched it to its pair. A soft matte finish is the final step in completing these earrings. 

Amy Renshaw’s 'Capturing the Essence' earrings in yellow gold offer a quiet, considered reflection on the power of simplicity and intention. Also available in sterling silver, we invite you to explore Amy's work online or visit us in the gallery to experience its presence firsthand.