My journey with lapidary began as a child. Though I was born in the UK, I grew up in Africa, where the vibrant colours of raw gemstones first captured my imagination. At 15, I cut my first stones, sparking a lifelong fascination with the art of shaping and polishing gems.

Over the years, my passion evolved into expertise. I now teach cabbing and faceting, sharing the skills I’ve honed through decades of practice. But above all, it was opal that truly stole my heart. Nearly 30 years ago, I fell in love with its mesmerising play of colour, and since then, I’ve travelled extensively—particularly to Australia and Ethiopia—studying the unique patterns of black opal and the geological conditions that shape its beauty.

Today, my focus remains with my first love, lapidary, but my hobby is on lab-created opal, my work goes far beyond simple replication. The true magic of opal lies in understanding the formation of silica spheres and how they interact with light to produce their dazzling displays. Even the slightest adjustments in chemical composition or the surrounding rock matrix can dramatically alter colour patterns and shifts—an intricate dance of science and artistry.

In amongst my lapidary I run a small lab, which has also become a studio where I film my experiments and discoveries. Through my work, I aim to explore, educate, and celebrate the extraordinary world of opal, from its natural wonders to the precision of lab creation.

Join me as I continue to uncover the secrets of this captivating gemstone—one cut, one experiment, and one lesson at a time.