33
JULY 2015
PERSPECTIVE
PROFILE
{London }
TheEmerald
Faerie
Watching thesolar eclipse inCornwallwithabottle
of absinthe inspiredFionaGall tostartherown
lightingandchandelierdesigncompany, aptly
namedEmeraldFaerie. Gallworks fromherEast
Londonstudio, creatingornatechandeliers from
wire, glassandmetal, orwall lights inspiredby lacy
lingerie.Handmadeusing recycledmaterials, her
creationsarebothglamorousandedgy,witha
pleasing touchofwhimsy.
I’m themaker and thecreator.
I studied art and
design at HerefordCollege, and rather thanbeing just
a product designer, youwere taught how tobe the
manufacturer and creator of the pieces youdesigned.
I lovemaking things.With theBirds of Paradise
chandelier collection, I make the prototypes and
someone else does the framework. It comes back and
we assemble it in theworkshop, so it’s all handmade.
Mostdaysyou’ll findmescouting inabin
somewhere.
I findmymaterials everywhere: I like to
rummage around car boot sales, antiquesmarkets and
fleamarkets. Lately I’ve been researching and sourcing
vintage handbags. Sometimes I find a piece and think,
‘Ohwow, I’ve got awhole new range of ideas about
what I candowith this.’ Other times I buy things
because I like them, and they develop into something
later. I bought a couple of brass swift birds, because
theywere really cool. I took amouldof them andnow
I’m carving themoulds inbronze, with the idea of
turning them into jewellery and accessories.
I lovecollaboratingwith friends.
It’s really nice to
swap skills and it keeps you creative. Otherwise it can
be easy to get a bit lost in your ownwork.My jewellery
andhandbag collection, The Swift, was initially a
collaborationwith a friendwho runs a fashion label
and askedme todesign stuff for her catwalk show.
Myart is functional.
The Triffid lamp is beautiful; it’s
a piece of art, but it’s also functional. It’s not just
sitting there looking pretty. The Lotus table lamps, all
handmade byme, have a little flower where the light
source is. The flowers aremade of glass, then encased
inwirewhich forms the patternof a petal. They’re
muchmore than art.
When I’malone I’matmymost creative.
Thatway I
can just zone out. In the past I’ve hadpeopleworking
withme in the studio and I’ve had to ask for silence.
Toomuch chat destroys your concentration.
I’maworkaholic.
But it’smy passion, so I don’t see it
as beingwork. I try not tohave harddeadlines, I don’t
like them– it stops the process frombeing creative
and enjoyable. I’m in the studio every day, but
whether it’s 9-5 depends onwhat’s happening.
If Iwasn’tadesigner I’dbe….
You knowwhat? I can’t
think of anything else I’d like todo.Maybe I’d spend
more time drawing, I love todraw. And I used todo a
lot of birdwatching, I like that.
emeraldfaerie.com
FLYTO
LONDON
THREETIMESDAILY
Myart is
functional,
ithasause
ratherthan
justsitting
looking
pretty
