Where do you live and why?
Hillgate Village in Notting Hill. It’s a cheery rainbow-coloured area located between two parks with a great pub, The Hillgate [24 Hillgate Street], which is covered in flowers.
Where do you get inspiration for your designs?
Nature – living and decaying.
Why do you think your jewellery has attracted such a big following among celebs?
To be honest I’m not really up on celebrity culture.
Why do you choose to have your jewellery made in England?
I choose to support British craftsmen/women as the ones I work with produce very high quality work and are also efficient enough to meet tight time frames. British craft needs to be supported and its heritage kept alive.
Are there any other local designers you admire?
Vassilisa [luxury scarf label] does beautiful things.
What’s in your secret west London address book?
A house on Chepstow Road for White Lady flowers, Aubury Walk for tennis and Clarke’s [122–124 Kensington Church Street, W8] for spying on Lucien Freud over lunch.
Where do you like to hang out in your neighbourhood?
Kensington Gardens. I hang out there every day with my two long dogs and never tire of it. Plus The Orangery does delicious cakes.
What was the last exhibition you saw?
William Roper Curzon’s The Gathering at the Aretha Campbell Fine Art gallery [3 Bedfordbury Place, WC2]. William is the next Schiele.
What are you currently reading?
The Lonely Empress, a biography of my heroine, Elizabeth, empress of Austria.
What are you most proud of and why?
My horse aka HRH – he has wings!
What’s your worst trait?
Being impatient.
What’s your philosophy on life?
Everything changes.
What is your extravagance?
My horse.
Tell us a secret about your area…
I never give away secrets – I only trade them.
