British jeweler Kate Bajic lives and works in a rural village in the Midlands, England, using the countryside around her as inspiration for her contemporary pieces. In particular, she is fascinated by the wide variation of color, shapes, and forms found in different lichen species. Through photography and sample collection, Bajic examines their minute complexity and translates aspects of this into her work. She handcrafts pieces using precious metals or mild steel, often combined with semiprecious stones. Designs evolve through experimenting with composition, playing with contrasting colors, or adding textural details. More recently, experimentation with laser cutting has allowed the incorporation of precision-cut materials alongside intricate hand-pierced steel lichen forms. Each piece is designed as a tribute to the beauty and preciousness of the exquisite and diverse natural forms that inspired it.
