Scarlet Bennett

I am drawn to large, conceptually-driven pieces that express the rawness and vulnerability of the human condition. Each piece I make means something to me, and I try to capture the feeling behind each creation in a creative, editorial image that tells a story. The final image is as important to me as the metalwork itself, a gesamtkunstwerk that expresses a facet of the hidden psychological and emotional world underneath what is visible on the surface.

Master of Disguise Series

Camouflage: Hiding in the murky depths, a woman faces the ruins (octopus headpiece)

The octopus headpiece was fabricated in copper and finished with a verdigris, antique patina. The eyes were made with resin and dye.

Survival: With broken back and faded hope, a turtle becomes more self-reliant than it ever wanted (turtle necklace)

The turtle pendant was carved in wax and cast using the lost wax casting method. It features a large septarian gemstone which was deliberated fractured then reconstructed with glue and resin to capture the sense of old wounds and imperfect healing. The resin too is deliberately flawed, with small air bubbles and slight fogging left unremoved around the outside of the stone. Like the hidden wounds that humans carry, the damage to the turtle shell can only be seen from close-up. From a distance, the turtle looks perfect. The pendant is attached to a fabricated sterling silver necklace with organic forms that represent waves and movement.

Tree Headpiece

Windswept: Buffeted by the winds of change, a woman stands with her tree, strong and proud, as the Earth rotates on its axis.

The tree headpiece was fabricated in copper and finished with a verdigris, antique patina.

Snake Necklace with Two Interchangeable Pendants
Slithering: A woman seeks protection and solace as she tries to change things that won’t move.

The snake necklace was hand carved from 4mm sterling silver wire and finished with a liver of sulphur patina and 18 carat gold detailing. The shield pendant was fabricated in sterling silver and features a black onyx gemstone with an antique patina and 18 carat gold detailing. The snakeskin pendant was made with a combination of techniques, including silver metal clay for the snakeskin base, lost wax casting for the honey myrtle twig, bronze metal clay for the sculpted hands, a fabricated sterling silver sphere, and two large citrine gemstones. It is finished with an antique patina and 18 carat gold detailing.