Meet Norma Kerr, she’s on top of the world.
In my family there are five women called Norma Kerr – middle names given to four sisters and one niece. Bright, funny, creative women who all inspired me in conceiving this collection. My name is Maggie, Norma Kerr is my alter ego.
Photo: Billie Charity
From my life of adventures around the world three words mean the most to me; to give Love, be full of Hope and, whatever adversity you face, to do so with Grace.
I grew up in South Yorkshire, graduated with a degree in Silversmithing and Jewellery from De Montfort University and headed south to London where I began to explore the jewellery trade inside and out. From designing window displays at Garrard’s, the Crown Jewellers, Harrods and Mappin & Webb in Knightsbridge, to selling my work on Camden Market from my workshop in Brixton. Then a couple of wonderful years designing jewellery and silverware in the heart of Italy’s jewellery trade in Vicenza, gaining an International Diploma from the Federation of Master Craftsmen, learning the language, loving the food and riding my Vespa alongside the canals.
Back in London I went on to design costume jewellery, a job that took me to Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, learning all of the techniques of mass production. My career then returned to Fine Jewellery to produce a platinum collection for Van Peterson. Made by craftsmen working at the Dickensian jewellers’ benches found at the top of the dark and dusty stairwells above the streets of Hatton Garden, to be sold exclusively online. The collection was one of the first luxury brands to be launched during the first dot com boom. The technology and the marketplace fascinated me, so I went back to school and studied for my post-grad Marketing diploma.
With this new knowledge, I moved to the hills of Wales and started an entirely new career at the Hay Festival. I’ve always loved books and I’m a country girl at heart so it seemed to make sense. I worked my way up to become Producer of Hay Festival Wales, and then Director of Development. Seventeen years and umpteen festivals later, from Hay to Nairobi, Merthyr Tydfil to the Alhambra Palace, I have so many stories to tell... some other time. Hay is a wonderful place full of many fascinating characters, who all have stories of their own. I became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and I continue to provide consultancy services to the Arts sector.
In recent times I have returned to my jeweller’s bench, to create work inspired by vintage tattoos, that capture a spirit of adventure and that are full of Love, Hope and Grace.
Maggie Norma Kerr, FRSA
