About Guy Howe Conners
Guy Howe Conners is an Edinburgh based jeweller who creates bold, playful pieces - primarily in spray painted acrylic and silver. With an expressive use of colour and scale, Guy’s jewellery is designed to inspire and elevate the wearer while remaining wearable and effortless. A strong interest lies in combining traditional metalsmithing techniques with modern technology. This runs hand in hand with Guy’s other focus of mixing precious and non-precious materials. Utilising unlikely combinations allows him to create visually interesting pieces, as well as asking the question what is really ‘valuable’?
Guy’s practice is underpinned with botanical references; he has always been fascinated by plants - especially tropical orchids which he collects and cultivates. Their incredibly beautiful, often odd shapes in stunning colours and patterns, feature heavily in his work. Pollinators of these plants also play an important role. Butterflies and moths seem to hold a magical quality about them which instantly entrances us. Guy’s jewels draw inspiration from these delicate insects, translating their fragile, elegant forms into solid objects. Pop culture and city surroundings also serve as a crucial source of inspiration, especially the murals and graffiti which can be found in abundance along the city’s canal.
Guy has found a strong affinity with sheet metal and plastic, this has led him to employing laser-cutting as an integral technique. Laser technology allows him to create complex designs with less waste and higher accuracy, it also allows for a much healthier making process. This is used directly with spray painting. With a background in fine art and textiles Guy has always found colour to be an essential part of his designs. Originally inspired by the murals and graffiti around Edinburgh, spray paint has proven to be a very versatile and exciting material which works especially well with acrylic. The paint’s capacity for layering and blending has meant he is able to create exciting combinations and gradients.