Ness originally took inspiration from whales for her sterling silver jewellery, having had the privilege of watching these amazing creatures in the Pacific Ocean. Some whales live for over 200 years, and Ness is moved by the thought that there are whales alive today who still bear the scars from the height of the whaling industry in the 19th century.
Her pieces, which can be worn as necklaces or brooches, are individually cast in moulds made from cuttlefish to give a finely detailed, organic texture. As Ness uses the hammer to texturise the metal, she has in her mind the whales’ scars. The leviathan, the deep dark of the ocean and its unpredictability even on a seemingly calm day stir her imagination, and she seeks to reflect this in her work.
