Ringing the Changes
Richard Bett, Jewellery Designer

Lincolnshire jewellery designer Richard Bett is particularly busy this time of year crafting hand made jewellery for customers seeking a particularly personal piece following Valentine’s day proposals. Here, he talks about how jewellery should always be a personal representation of a couple’s love, and discusses how he became one of the county’s most popular jewellery artists

As children, many of us had a fascination for making things – from helping mother to bake in the kitchen to perservering  with Airfix models, or a penchant for spending time in the woodwork room at school. Most of us allow our attempts to fall by the wayside but for Lincoln based Richard Bett, the fascination with exploring his sense of creativity never subsided.

Today, the jewellery artist produces bespoke items for Lincoln Cathedral and custom commissions for couples seeking engagement rings and wedding bands and other items of jewellery which are entirely personal and very special to his clients. In addition, his larger works of art can be seen by thousands each day in the centre of Sleaford – Richard created the ironwork around the town’s Dragon fence next to the Handley monument and numerous pieces of street furniture in Newark’s town centre.

Originally from Ludlow in Shropshire, Richard’s parents moved to Lincoln when he was just seven years old. Studying a specialist course in 3D design at Loughborough Art College, Richard was somewhat versatile, studying among colleagues working across the whole spectrum of furniture, products and artwork design, himself finding a particular niche in jewellery design.

A particular influence at this time came from the Electrum Gallery, a showcase for designers, exclusive fashion and jewellery designers patronised by Barbara Cartlidge.

Leaving University and working as a nurse before going on to to sell and repair jewellery as the Workshop Manager of Lincoln’s Franklins Jewellery gave Richard a grounding in the commercial and retail aspects of the industry, but it was the death of his father in 1983 which spurred Richard into pursuing his dream of creating and selling his work on a freelance basis.