Wave Brooch with Mother of Pearl, 2023

Satoko Takemura is a jeweller based in North Wales, UK. After studying metalwork in Japan, she spent over a decade teaching in Tokyo before moving to the UK in 2012 to take up a research and teaching position at the Glasgow School of Art. Since then, she has focused on her own creative practice, gradually developing a distinctive and personal style in jewellery. In 2015, she began working with hand engraving — a technique that became an important part of her artistic language. This approach allowed her to explore new ways of working with light and texture, elements that continue to shape her evolving body of work.

‘My jewellery is inspired by light, texture, and gentle movement. In 2015, I was introduced to hand engraving – a technique that deeply resonated with me. I was immediately drawn to the way engraved lines catch and reflect light, creating a soft, natural shimmer that changes as the wearer moves. This experience reminded me of the way light interacts with fine woven textiles, especially silk, which glows as light touches its fibres. Drawing from this connection, I began to explore how the lights of fabric could be expressed in metal.’ – Satoko Takemura