Katie New is a jeweller who also has extensive teaching experience in jewellery and metalwork, 3D design, interior and spatial design, fashion, textiles and mixed media. She has worked at Chelsea College of Art and Design, Havering College, South Thames College, City and Guilds of London Art School and recently Morley College.
Her work is material led and draws on the experience of travelling in Japan in 1994 researching traditional Japanese crafts. Celebrating an affinity with nature, the work focuses on translating texture, line, shape, colour and form into precious metals and gems. Preliminary studies for making work are made at botanical gardens where observations of fruit, seeds, leaf shapes, exotic structures, coils and furls inform the pieces. Translating the ephemeral quality of nature into permanent form communicates the co-existence of strength and fragility in nature. Works are made in organic material, perspex, anodised aluminium, tropical wood, paper, leather, fabric, feathers, glass and resin.