Shark Alley

Shark Alley (aka Sarah Kelly) creates quirky, individual jewellery inspired by animals, birds, graphic shapes and pattern, all handmade by the Brighton-based designer-maker in her tiny studio close to the sea.

Sarah’s love of wildlife started early with many weekends spent on nature walks with her family, birdwatching and studying butterflies and flowers. (It’s also in her blood: her grandfather was a passionate amateur botanist and photographer, and his brother, Gilbert, corresponded with Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain about the birdlife in St James’s Park during the early years of WW2 – she still has the letters and his voluminous and ancient bird journal!)

Sarah went on to work in the fields of illustration, textile design and mosaic, with clients including ELLE magazine, Ecover and the designer Kaffe Fassett. Her work is in the V&A Museum collection (in London.) The Shark Alley project was born in 2010 as a joyful return to hands-on making after several years of working digitally. Sarah loves jewellery and creating small, beautiful things as well as designing for small printed textile pieces. The media may change, but the passion for animals, colour and pattern remain constant.

These are just a few examples of Shark Alley’s work – we have lots more in the gallery – visit us to see them all!

Interested in buying one of these works and have a question? Email us with any queries, or call us on 01273 729729 (during opening hours).