Robert Spotten, Jewellery Designer
Born in the vibrant city of Derry/Londonderry, Northern
Ireland in 1960, I quickly learned to adapt. With the maternity ward running
out of cots upon my arrival, I found my first bed in a drawer!
In the midst of the Northern Ireland conflict, creativity became
my refuge. At a tender age of 15, I found solace in painting exquisite wildlife
portraits with watercolour and gouache. This honed my keen eye for detail, a
skill that later became fundamental in my jewellery design journey. I began my apprenticeship
with a Hatton trained jeweller at 17, marking the start of my lifelong
fascination with crafting beautiful jewellery.
In 1999, I launched my own design and production business with
the unwavering support of my wife, Brigitte. Over the years, our brand has evolved
but our commitment to crafting exquisite jewellery has remained
constant. Today, we are known as "The Puffin Gallery" and our
creations are a
blend of sterling silver, gold, platinum, and palladium.
In 2014, I earned a degree in Contemporary and Applied Arts from
the University of Ulster reigniting my passion for creating.
Among the highlights of my career is the honour of being commissioned
by the Coleraine Borough Council in 2014 to design and create a brooch for Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 2015, the Arts Council recognized my work by
including one of my pieces in their permanent Art Collection.
In the year of 2023, the University of Stirling granted me the
honour of tailoring a bespoke brooch for Her Majesty, Queen Silvia of Sweden.
With each detail meticulously handcrafted, the piece reflected a harmonious
blend of artistry and sustainability. Much to my delight, the Queen donned the
brooch instantly, a testament to her enchantment with its unique design.
Brigitte Le Boulleur, Multi-media artist designer
Born in French Catalonia, Perpignan, in 1963, Brigitte Le
Boulleur was always destined for creative greatness. Her lineage was woven with
jewellers and entrepreneurs, her great grandfather, Jean Deleon, being the
mastermind behind the renowned Belvedere in Cerbère. As a child, Brigitte's
playground was her garden, where she collected mud to create her first nativity
set, embellished with sweet wrappers. Her love for the arts didn't stop there;
she was fond of sketching faces, playing with colours on canvas, and moulding
ceramics.
At 17, Brigitte sought to broaden her horizons at Trinity
College, Dublin, earning a BA Hons Degree in English and French.
Post-graduation in 1985, she ventured north to Northern Ireland, immersing
herself in marketing, community and business development. She always kept her
passion for the arts alive, attending evening classes in watercolour,
photography, and dance. She shared her love for her native language by teaching
French in her free time, even as she pursued her part-time MBA at the
University of Ulster.
In the year of 1998, Robert Spotten and Brigitte tied the
knot and embarked on a creative journey together, crafting their own unique
business. Robert unleashed his creativity through designing and crafting
exquisite jewellery, while Brigitte painted life with various art forms and
took the helm of the business operations. Fast forward to 2014, Brigitte
further enriched her artistic flair by earning an Associate Degree in Fine and
Applied Art.
In 2022, she was nominated as one of the 100 f:Entrepreneurs
in the UK.
Brigitte finds her muse in the simple beauty of social and
family life, weaving together threads of motherhood into her artistic tapestry.
Expressing herself through a myriad of mediums - textiles, silver, ceramics,
glass, oil paints, and printmaking, she pours her heart into every creation.
Her fervour for arts fuels her conviction that creativity is
the lifeblood of a free and democratic society. Ever the champion for
creativity, she has initiated and participated in various community efforts to
cultivate and champion artistic expression among individuals.
Contact Robert
For a design consultation to craft your unique jewellery piece, reach out to Robert. Whether face-to-face or through a screen, we're ready to turn your visions into reality.