Sheila Fleet Jewellery
Sheila Fleet OBE is one of the top designers and crafters of stunning jewellery in Scotland. Based in Orkney where a small dedicated team of 55 craftspeople create a wonderful range of rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches and much more. All the jewellery is handmade in the workshop on Orkney using a range of quality materials, from gold and silver to enamel and diamonds. Many of Sheilas collections are inspired by the Orkney Islands natural beauty and her designs link back to the history and traditions of jewellery making.
Sheila Fleet was born Sheila Deerness, which is why each piece of jewellery carries the makers mark SD. At the age of 15 Sheila left school with a passion for art and drawing that took her on to get a place at Edinburgh College of Art in 1963. One of Sheilas hobbies while she was at college was collecting stones that she polished and created jewellery out of. As her skills developed and become recognised, Sheila started winning awards and bursaries for her designs and then went on to be awarded a Post Diploma for a years professional jewellery training. Shelia later worked with Andrew Grima in London and travelled throughout Europe learning from many top designers along the way. Sheilas talent was honed during her 8 years with Corocraft who were the worlds leading costume jewellery company of the 1960s.
In 1993 Sheila decided to open her own business, with her husband and sons help, designing and manufacturing beautiful jewellery. Today she is one of the largest employers on Orkney and the company follows the ethos of a family run business. Sheilas husband Rick is the photographer and her son Martin runs the day-to-day operations. They are committed to employing locally and keeping alive traditions that have been a part of the Orkney Islands since the Neolithic period.
Colour is a key element in Sheila Fleets designs and is part of what makes the jewellery so characteristic. Much of the colour is achieved with enamel. This process has been used in jewellery for thousands of years including by the Egyptians, Romans and Celts and artefacts with enamel have been found on Orkney dating from the Iron Age. The Orkney Islands have inspired creativity throughout the ages and Sheila Fleet Jewellery have made it their home.
In 2013 Shiela Fleet was awarded an OBE on the New Years Honours list for her services to the jewellery industry. She now has over 45 years experience in the industry and her jewellery designs have been purchased by customers all over the world .
Here at Amor Cashmere and Tweed we just had to have Sheila Fleet Jewellery as part of our range and these are precious pieces that you will cherish forever.