Dazzle 40 | Roger Barnes

Roger has had a long and varied career as a silversmith and then wildlife guide. Straight from art college he set up as a maker with the help of the Crafts Council, and never looked back, exhibiting widely.

Early on he contributed jewellery to the Royal Exchange Theatre shows organised by Christine, and these shows evolved into the Dazzle Exhibitions across the country. Tony and Christine helped him and many other ‘arty’ jewellers by choosing new, varied, unconventional and wearable work to show to new audiences.

After 25 years of etching brooches, forming rings and setting stones, plus raising (hammering) vessels, clock faces and restoration work for the V&A, his arm joints where knackered! A change was the only answer, despite his work being in demand. Fortunately he had, all along, also been involved in conservation, occasionally joining rainforest expeditions. So when he was forced to stop bending metal he turned to guiding safaris and wildlife holidays around the world. This grew into a full time job for the next 20 years (until Covid 19), but he missed designing and making things so has returned to his workbench when he can…

Nature and folk art has always influenced his designs.

View all the 40 brooches for 40 years exhibition.