Tam's Tall Tales

- Sheila Fleet Jewellery is Sparkling


Snowdrop Jewellery by Sheila Fleet



Sheila Fleet Jewellery is Sparkling
Funding has been secured for a new visitor centre showcasing the work of Sheila Fleet, the Orkney jewellery designer.

Sheila Fleet, who is one of Scotland's leading jewellery designers, founded the business in 1993. Expansion has come with the help of family members and a dedicated team and they now have a number of shops in Scotland and a network of European stockists.

The new visitor centre will be based in a disused church and supplements further investment in the firm's existing workshop.

The firm secured a £166,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help bring the project to life. Sheila Fleet said: “We are very much looking forward to this exciting development. Once complete in the next 12-18 months, it will mark 50 years of my career in jewellery design.

“My inspiration comes from where I live and from nature’s infinite spectrum of shapes and colours. It’s very exciting to develop such a unique exhibition space in the place and landscape which has inspired so many of my designs.

“The church will display my contemporary and traditional collections as well as our classic favourites and very latest pieces. We’ll also tell the story of the part the church has played in the local community.”

Sheila Fleet is one of Scotland’s leading designers of precious jewellery. She has recently celebrated 20 years in business, launched her 85th jewellery collection, received an OBE from the Queen and an Honorary Degree from the University of Edinburgh. Sheila has shops in Scotland and stockists throughout the UK and Europe.

Sheila was brought up on a farm in Orkney surrounded by the sea and sky. Her early drawings of the cliffs and shoreline gained her a place at Edinburgh College of Art.

Today, all Sheila Fleet jewellery is made by experienced craftsmen in a state-of-the-art workshop by the sea in Orkney. The business remains family-run with son Martin and his wife Mairi joining Sheila to lead a skilled team of 70.


Please give me whatever feedback comes to mind via tamfromrampant@gmail.com.

Tam O'Ranter
January 2016

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