Michael King

Michael King was born in Kent and moved to Cumbria in 1982. He qualified at Rochester College in 1974 and worked as a jeweller in London and then Southend-on-Sea with Christopher Lawrence, a silversmith of international standing.
Silver and gold are Michael King's basic raw materials and his enthusiasm for them is instantly recognisable. "With time and care you can make metal do whatever you dream of," he says.

He is fascinated by contrasts of highly polished and heavily textured, granulated surfaces. Some of his pieces are constructed round silver coral, a technique of simulating natural coral by a unique casting process developed by Michael King himself.
Celtic art, with its mysterious, flowing lines, is another influence on his work. And there are gemstones too, from opals and sapphires to diamonds with their beckoning, subtle light and colours. With diamonds it is the age-old sparkle. "It's an amazing thing thing," Michael says. "They draw the eye insistently to a central point. In opals, for instance, you find flashes of fine colour as light is deflected inside the stone and breaks up into shimmering blues, greens and reds."
These natural qualities of metals and stones and their invitation to touch are the inspiration for Michael King's jewellery. He is cautious with design, blending the best elements of the contemporary with established styles of the past to produce distinctive pieces of outstanding beauty. Past and present, metal and stones are united with the integrity of a dedicated hand-craftsman.