Guilty pleasures with jeweller Heather Larson 

Liz Nicholls

Jewellery maker Heather Larson tells us about her craft, inspired by her childhood on the Canadian prairies, ahead of Bucks Art Weeks  

If you’ve ever wanted to peek underneath the layers of creativity, Great Missenden jeweller Heather Larson is one of the hidden gems whose process you can explore in Bucks Artweeks, 7th to 22nd June. 

Heather is an enameller who uses traditional techniques to create work with a clean and modern aesthetic. Most of her pieces are one of a kind and feature hand engraving, sometimes with a glint of gold or gemstones.  

“I was born in Canada and grew up on the prairies, which are beautiful but in a very subtle way with big sunsets and waving grasses,” Heather tells us. “That environment definitely informed the way I look at the world and the style of my work. 

“Bucks Art Weeks is the most important event of the year for many artists and makers. Professionals and amateur artists exhibit side by side and with some artists opening their studios to the public. It’s a great chance to see behind the scenes and learn how things are made. The committee does a super job with the directory and now with art trails springing up around the county, visitors can link together stops to see their favourite local artists and to discover new ones. It creates a buzzy atmosphere. I always look forward to exhibiting my new work and having time to chat with visitors in a more relaxed setting.” 

Heather enamels on silver and hand engraves the textures you can see underneath. “I tend to use soft colours, sometimes with painting enamel or gemstones. My sketches have lots of notes jotted in the margins and usually start with a photograph. My phone is full of photos of interesting things I’d like to turn into jewellery ideas one day! Over time, these sketches develop into a series of work and most of my pieces are one of a kind. The lovely thing about enamel is that I get to play with colour in a way that most jewellers don’t. 

“Enamelling is my second career. I spent 20 years working as an engineer and it was that work which allowed me to move around the world and to finally settle in Bucks. I like to keep busy! I’m in a band with my neighbours and we sometimes play at our village pub. I’m also a very keen but novice gardener.” 

Heather now has a cat but when she first moved to Missenden she had a very elderly dog. “One of my favourite walks was through the woods from Nags Head Lane to Prestwood, then back down through Angling Spring Wood, stopping at Matilda’s Bistro for a coffee. Woody and Friends has been a great addition to the High Street, with pet food, gifts, and grooming.  

“I’m a member of Buckinghamshire Craft Guild and I love their gallery at Layby Farm in Stoke Mandeville as well as Obsidian Art next door. Closer to home are Little Wren Collections and The Jeweller’s Bench. Peterley Farm holds several craft fairs and Pantry at 51 in Prestwood also hosts artists and makers through the year. It’s lovely to have so many businesses run by and supporting local makers.”