Welcome to Dobrawa Szmyt Designs.
Every piece begins at my workbench in County Durham, where I create handmade silver jewellery using traditional hand-fabrication techniques, old tools and historic impression dies.
The Maker
I have always been drawn to making things by hand because I believe the maker leaves something of themselves in every piece they create.
My journey into jewellery making began on 10 January 2021, when I started teaching myself to work with silver. Just over a year later, on 12 February 2022, I attended my very first market at Manor Walks in Cramlington.
My journey hasn’t always been continuous, but my love for the craft has brought me back to the workbench. Dobrawa Szmyt Designs was built around the values that have always mattered to me. In a world where so much is made quickly and in large quantities, I choose to work slowly and thoughtfully, giving each piece the time it deserves.
There is something deeply satisfying about creating jewellery with my own hands, using traditional techniques and watching a piece slowly take shape. But one of the greatest joys for me is seeing someone wearing something I have made, knowing that it has become part of their everyday life. That is something I never take for granted.
For me, craftsmanship is not simply about the finished piece of jewellery. It is about respecting the process, the materials and the generations of artisans whose knowledge and skills continue to inspire my own work.
I hope that every piece leaving my workshop carries not only its own beauty, but also the care and craftsmanship that shaped it.
Inspired by Nature
Nature has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are of time spent in the forest, and it remains the place where I feel most at home.
I am especially drawn to forests and to the endless variety of forms, textures and surfaces found in the natural world: the patterns of bark, weathered wood, leaves, stones and the organic shapes that are rarely quite uniform or perfectly symmetrical.
This influences my work in ways that can be both visible and subtle. Sometimes nature appears directly in a botanical form or design; at other times, its influence can be found simply in a texture, a stone, or an irregular surface or the character of the finished silver.
I find beauty in imperfection and in the marks that tell a story. Weathering, irregularity and the passage of time can give something a character that a pristine surface cannot. These qualities speak to me of history and resilience, and they continue to shape the way I see beauty and the jewellery I create.
The Craft
I create my jewellery using traditional hand-fabrication techniques, working directly with silver through processes such as forming, soldering, texturing and finishing. I use a combination of traditional hand tools and modern workshop equipment, with each piece shaped by the decisions and judgment I make throughout the process.
Historic impression dies also have a special place in my work. Many were created by skilled artisans who spent countless hours carving intricate designs by hand. By using these surviving dies today, I can incorporate a small piece of that craftsmanship and history into my own work, allowing these beautiful designs to continue their story through a new generation of jewellery.
The Materials
I work primarily in sterling silver, a material I have always been drawn to for its strength and character. I enjoy the way it responds beneath the hammer, the richness it develops with a deep patina, and how it continues to reveal new character as it is worn over time.
Made to Last
I hope my work finds people who feel a connection to it and enjoy wearing it for many years, allowing each piece to become part of their own story.