In this season’s SKYE by Brora Portrait we are introducing the founder of jewellery brand WILLA /HILFRIECH and incredibly talented artist, Willa Hilditch. Willa specialises in making jewellery using the ‘lost wax’ technique, which involves sandpapering and carving blocks of wax into shape before engraving drawings into them with a dental tool and casting in silver. We sat down with Willa to learn more about her craft, artistic inspirations and personal style.

How did you learn the specialist craft of jewellery-making?

I took my sister to a wax carving workshop for her birthday years ago and I really loved what I made. I temporarily moved back to my parents’ farm on the Welsh border during the pandemic and decided to order all of the tools that we had at the workshop and I found a London-based caster and started making pieces there. Since then, there has been a lot of trial and error and I have taken some classes with the brilliant Rebecca Ilett. There are endless techniques to be learnt so never a dull moment.

How would you describe your creative process?

My work starts with drawing. I walk and draw from observation, from objects in museums and galleries and from images created in my head when reading. I combine snippets of these and engrave them into sculpted modernist forms to create an unfinished narrative that the wearer can complete. 

What other artists inspire you?

My friends are a constant inspiration to me. I studied at the Royal Drawing School where I met so many brilliant people - Holly Mills, Sara Antis, Ella Walker, Martin Jackson, Jake Grewal to name a few.

⁠What brings you joy in your work?

I love seeing old pieces that have had years of constant wear and have accrued marks and patina on them. 

What is your favourite piece you’ve ever made?

One of my most recent pieces, MOUSE, is possibly my favourite piece to date. It is a ring with two curved sides and two flat tapered ends. I engraved a low relief of a mouse and some grapes onto one side and have filed a texture onto the other. The shape is very tactile and I will definitely be keeping one. 

What role does jewellery play in getting dressed each day?
 
I keep my favourite silver ring and stack of bracelets on all the time and then depending on what I'm wearing, I add other pieces made by me and antique pieces that I have collected over the years. The ring I wear daily is one of my most popular silver D shape rings. I often get asked to make it to commission with engraved drawings requested by the customer. Mine has a combination of ancient folklore symbols and old tools on it.

⁠When did you discover Brora?

I discovered Brora through my Mum who had an extremely soft cashmere jumper which I was allowed to borrow once it was sufficiently moth eaten.

What’s your favourite piece from the SKYE AW26 collection?
 
I love the Wool Pin Stripe Trousers and Jacket.

⁠Is your personal style important to what you do?
 
I love clothes and jewellery. I spend hours trawling eBay to find things that I like and will wear them until they're worn through!

What kind of clothing do you naturally gravitate towards?

I love layering block colours and textures and I am rarely seen in the colder months without my red and black chevron Mussi Knits scarf.

What advice would you give to other young creatives starting out in your field?

Make what you want to make not what you feel you should make.

Where can people find out more about you and your work?

Jewellery
https://www.hilfreichjewellery.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/willahilfreich/

Artwork
https://www.instagram.com/willahilditch/