Our Story

From Textile to Metal

Tess’s creative journey began with fabric and print, guiding her from school through university. Textiles felt familiar & full of life something she could shape and play with easily. Metal, on the other hand, was a completely different story. It felt rigid and impossible to control, a material she had never imagined she’d work with. In those early days, she much preferred the softness of fabric and the freedom of printmaking.

Egyptian Sun Dial Piece

When creating her final pieces, Tess’s vision and passion truly came to life. After months of learning to design, cut, and shape metal, her final show became a reflection of her dedication and skill a celebration of her Egyptian-inspired theme. What began with a book on Egyptian plate patterns and visits to museum collections evolved into three striking statement pieces and a modern, wearable collection crafted from silver and brass.

Final Exhibition

Tess fully immersed herself in the process of creating bold, statement pieces, drawing inspiration from galleries, intricate patterns, & diverse cultures.

Throughout her journey, she explored and refined a range of metalworking techniques including repoussé, soldering, riveting, stone setting, fold forming, and intricate piercing and cut-outs.

She experimented with surface textures and finishes, developing a deep appreciation for how each technique could bring her designs to life.

To this day, Tess’s passion for experimenting with metals and techniques shines through in every piece she creates. Each design brings together a unique blend of processes, reflecting her curiosity and craftsmanship. She particularly enjoys techniques such as tube riveting, intricate piercing, and soldering layered combinations of mixed metals. Silver and brass remain a signature pairing in her work, offering a balance of warmth and contrast that defines her distinctive style.

Techniques & Learning

Year 1 - 3 of Self Discovery Through Jewellery

2022-23 The Start:

• Autumn 2022: The Yellowmoth brand began to bloom, marking the start of Tess’s journey into jewellery making.

• Winter 2022: Showcased and sold her work to the public for the first time at a Christmas show.

• 2023: Focused on developing a clear design aesthetic and identifying her target audience.

• Exhibited her work in her first local gallery shop, a key milestone in her creative journey.

• Continued shopping and sourcing materials locally, supporting small suppliers and sustainable practices.

• Explored and refined her skills in silverwork, deepening her technical knowledge and craftsmanship.

• Attended and sold her creations at local craft fairs and markets, building community connections and brand presence.

2024 Getting To Know:

• 2024: Continued selling at local fairs, building on the success and connections made in her first year.

• Completed a variety of custom pieces, creating meaningful, one-of-a-kind designs for customers.

• Gained insight into popular trends and identified her best-selling pieces, refining her creative direction.

• Saw her work displayed in two additional Welsh galleries, expanding her reach and recognition.

• Began exploring TikTok, sharing behind-the-scenes making videos and connecting with a wider audience.

• Upgraded her tools and workspace, investing in quality craftsmanship and continued growth.

2025 Achievements

• Began selling in galleries across West and South Wales, as well as Shropshire, expanding Yellowmoth’s presence beyond local roots.

• Noticed a rise in popularity and recognition of her designs, with much of her creative process now developed digitally through Illustrator.

• Saw her audience broaden significantly, attracting customers from all walks of life. Her unisex jewellery — blending both feminine and masculine elements resonated with a diverse range of wearers.

• Continued to create custom-made pieces, offering personal and meaningful designs.

• Experimented with fun and innovative techniques, keeping her work fresh and distinctive.

• Exhibited during the winter season, sharing new collections with an engaged and growing audience.

• Relocated her jewellery workspace, creating an inspiring environment for the next chapter of her craft.

Influences and Design

Tess has worked on a wide range of projects that bring together textiles, metal, photography, and drawing as part of her design process. Over time, she has developed her own distinctive style and continues to seek new influences and projects that inspire and push her creativity forward.

Her design process often begins with hand-drawn sketches, allowing ideas to take shape organically before refining them digitally in Adobe Illustrator. Using Illustrator helps her achieve precise, symmetrical designs — a vital step before printing and transferring them onto metal for cutting and forming.

Tess has long been inspired by Egyptian design, drawing influence from books, museum visits, and gallery exhibitions. During her many trips to galleries both as a university student and with family around Wales and parts of England, she discovered a deep appreciation for art history and the creative forces that have shaped other artists and makers.

Local open studio events have also been a source of inspiration, offering a glimpse into the working lives of artists across a range of disciplines, from textiles and metalwork to painting, drawing, and sculpture. Tess believes that community and creativity go hand in hand — that surrounding yourself with other artists helps the artist within you to thrive.

As a self-taught jeweller with a background in design, Tess continues to build a portfolio of work shaped by galleries, projects, and personal reflection. Each piece represents both achievement and growth, as she believes there is always room to evolve and improve.

Her journey has also been guided by social media and her customers, whose feedback and encouragement have played a key role in shaping her collections. Through conversations at local fairs, Tess has learned to adapt her designs to reflect her audience’s preferences — from customers seeking moth pendants instead of earrings at one event, to the opposite trend at another. Every interaction and experience continues to inform her practice, making her work both personal and ever-evolving.

Studio SetUp

Over the years, we’ve built a versatile collection of tools to support every stage of our jewellery-making process. Our workspace features an adjustable desk for designing and precise sawing, along with essential equipment such as an ultrasonic cleaner, pickle pot, and a range of rotary and hand tools. Recently, we’ve added radial discs a new rotary accessory for fine sanding helping us achieve an even higher level of precision and finish in each piece we create.

We’ve recently upgraded to a larger soldering station, giving us more space for melting, soldering, and assembling our pieces. The improved ventilation setup allows for the use of larger flames, offering greater flexibility and precision during the making process.

Our soldering block bricks are designed to reflect and retain heat, creating an efficient workspace that supports consistent, high-quality results. For different stages of work, we use both a Sivert torch and a small butane jewellery torch, allowing us to tackle everything from delicate joins to larger, more intricate assemblies.

What makes Us Unique?

Recycled Silver:

Handcrafted jewellery takes time — from the design and making process to sourcing materials responsibly. We’re committed to using locally supplied and recycled silver in many of our pieces, a choice that’s kinder to the planet and helps reduce exploitation within the industry.

Recycled silver maintains the same high quality as newly mined silver and can be melted and reshaped endlessly without losing its integrity. By reusing and refining existing materials, we create jewellery that not only tells a story but also supports a more sustainable future.

You as Consumers

Why invest in an artist instead of a retailer or large brand?

As independent artists and makers, we can tailor designs to your ideas and desires, working with you to create something truly personal. We can also breathe new life into pre-existing jewellery, upcycling your silver or gold into meaningful new pieces.

Unlike mass-produced designs found in retail chains, which often follow similar trends and styles, our pieces are one-of-a-kind and handcrafted. Each creation is made with care — no machines, no shortcuts — just genuine craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Every piece we make carries the time, skill, and thought that go into meaningful design. Many of our customers tell us they’ve searched for years for a statement piece that feels bold, unique, and truly theirs. That’s what Yellowmoth Jewellery represents: diversity, individuality, and inspiration drawn from cultures and patterns around the world.

Our designs embrace both masculine and feminine elements, encouraging every age and gender to wear jewellery that expresses who they are. The joy of connecting with our customers — sharing ideas, discussing the design process, and hearing their stories — is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

At Yellowmoth, we believe jewellery should celebrate inclusivity, creativity, and your unique aesthetic. Every piece we make is designed to help you stand out, feel confident, and wear something that truly reflects you.

Mixed Media Metals

From bronze and titanium to brass, alloys, and silver, we love exploring the possibilities of mixed metals to create distinctive textures and finishes. By combining different materials, we craft pieces that are rich in contrast and character, each with its own story to tell.

Using a blowtorch on titanium produces deep blue tones that give the metal a striking, iridescent finish. Through careful use of polishes and chemical treatments, we can enhance or soften these colours — making the metal appear brighter, darker, or more subdued to complement each design.