Vanessa Priest is the owner and founder of QuayStones. She got the jewellery making bug when she was a child, helping her mother to make and sell beaded jewellery at craft and trade fairs. By her teens she had already decided she wanted to be a silversmith and went on to complete a degree in jewellery and silversmithing at Loughborough College of Art. She worked in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter for a number of years, travelled the world promoting the UK jewellery and giftware industries, finally sharing her knowledge and skills working in Adult Education. 

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A recent move to north Northumberland has renewed her passion for design where she is inspired by the landscapes, history and wildlife of her surroundings. Regular beach walks with her partner and faithful hound resulted in one of QuayStones’s first collections.

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QuayStones launched to the trade at the British Craft Trade Fair in 2022. and was later featured in the May/June edition of Gift Focus magazine. In 2023 QuayStones was shortlisted for 2 industry awards: The National Association of Jewellers' Jewellery Designer of the year and in the UK Jewellery Awards emerging designer category.

 

 Vanessa is happy to make items in gold and often tackles commission pieces. Please use the “Contact” page if you would like to discuss a bespoke design or special commission.