FEI LIU A STROKE OF BRILLIANCE

Asian designer Fei Liu creates magic at his workshop in Birmingham, UK. A rare talent, Liu combines his love for gemstones and Eastern heritage, and creates collector's pieces that stand the test of time. In a conversation with Vijetha Rangabashyam, he talks about his creative journey, his process, why he loves gemstones so much, and more

- Vijetha Rangabashyam,

Fei Liu was drawn towards arts as well as Chinese calligraphy and ink painting from a young age. Liu had an epiphany when he visited a Russian F crown jewellery exhibition - he realised that he could combine his love for arts with jewellery. So, in 1998, he pursued jewellery design at the Birmingham School of Jewellery. His body of work is a sublime confluence of Western contemporary design as well as his Eastern heritage. Each one of his pieces is a result of state-of-the-art technology as well as brilliant craftsmanship.

Where does your passion for jewellery stem from? 

I have always had a passion for creativity and from the age of five I began learning Chinese calligraphy and ink painting. A short stint in Hong Kong was the moment I realised that I had a passion for gemstones. At the time, I was juggling between a job and teaching art to children. Then, one day I was speaking with a gemmologist and became fascinated with the subject and in my spare time learnt more about gemstones. There was this jewellery shop in Hong Kong that I would visit after work every day, just to witness and observe the sparkle of gemstones. It was at a Russian crown jewellery exhibition that I knew jewellery would be my life. This was a visit where I realised, I could combine my love for art with gemstones.

What do you love the most about creating designing jewellery?