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Ruth Leslie (b.1993, Edinburgh) is one of the most exciting voices in contemporary Scottish jewellery, celebrated for work that combines sculptural elegance, technical precision and a distinctive sense of playfulness. Since establishing her practice in 2016, Leslie has developed an instantly recognisable visual language built around finely twisted wire structures and refined architectural forms. Working predominantly in recycled silver and gold from her Edinburgh studio, she creates jewellery that is both delicately engineered and deeply tactile, balancing movement, rhythm and lightness with exceptional craftsmanship.
Textiles and textile machinery lie at the heart of Leslie’s practice. Inspired equally by the subtle details of woven fabrics and the intricate mechanics hidden within looms and industrial machinery, she transforms fine strands of precious metal into sculptural constructions that appear almost suspended in space. Using an old-fashioned hand drill, Leslie painstakingly twists wire before cutting, shaping and wrapping it around precisely constructed frames. This labour-intensive process creates her signature linear surfaces, where tiny repeated elements catch the light and generate a remarkable sense of texture and movement.
What distinguishes Leslie’s work is the way it merges engineering with softness. Her jewellery possesses an architectural clarity, yet never feels rigid or static. Earrings sway like kinetic structures, rings and necklaces curve fluidly around the body, and the intricate wirework introduces an almost textile-like sensitivity to each piece. Despite the complexity of their construction, the works retain an effortless elegance and wearability, revealing a maker with an exceptional understanding of balance, proportion and material.
Leslie’s collections are characterised by clean, contemporary forms that transcend seasonal trends, combining bold sculptural presence with quiet refinement. There is also an inherent joy within the work. The repeated twists, loops and rhythmic structures create jewellery that feels energetic and alive, inviting both movement and close looking.
Over the past decade, Ruth Leslie has established a significant and highly respected relationship with The Scottish Gallery, becoming one of the defining emerging jewellery voices associated with the Gallery’s contemporary programme. In June 2026, The Scottish Gallery will present a major solo exhibition celebrating ten years of exhibiting with the Gallery, marking an important milestone in Leslie’s evolving career and recognising the strength, originality and growing maturity of her practice.
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