Kathryn Bishop is a bright, stand-out journalist whose passion for jewellery is unsurpassed.
She’s currently working as a senior writer at The Future Laboratory, a futures and trends consultancy, but it doesn’t end there. Boldly supportive of women in the jewellery trade, Kathryn is also a co-founder of the Women’s Jewellery Network and is the youngest Council Member and Trustee of the Goldsmith’s Craft and Design Council.
Her enthusiasm for the industry has seen her comprehensive articles featured in some of the top jewellery publications and media outlets.
In the third of our Jewellery Mavericks series, here’s what Kathryn told us about the roots of her admiration for jewellery, the worst misconception about the business and what excites her about custom design.
Who was your greatest influence in shaping your taste in jewellery? Do you remember when and how your passion was kindled?
The seed was definitely planted when I received a Cleopatra-themed jewellery kit for Christmas as a kid, and spent ages trying (and failing!) to string this intricate beaded collar. But I truly fell for jewellery when I landed a Saturday job at a store called Bloomsbury Jewellery in my hometown of Bath. It sold fine jewellery by the likes of Dower & Hall, Stephen Webster, Me & Ro and Tina Engell, alongside striking silver collections from designers around the world. The stories behind the designers’ work was Bloomsbury’s USP and it struck a chord with me – it was so unlike the high street chain jewellers that existed elsewhere in the city.