Having been to art school, first at York and later at the Byam Shaw (now part of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design) he found that his obsession with detail and his ability to interpret grand design on a miniature scale, made jewellery and silver the perfect vehicle for his art.

On leaving the Byam Shaw, Theo got his first job working as an apprentice, dogsbody and designer in the Dickensian surrounds of the silversmiths, Edward Barnard, established in the 17th Century, since when little had changed. When a customer brought in a solid gold champagne flute for repair, engraved in handwriting “Good Morning, Diana”, Theo was struck by the witty and quixotic sentiment, and much taken with the idea of a glamorous and intoxicated Diana. Such an unusual piece reinforced his belief that jewellery and silverware could be engaging and romantic as well as beautiful and should, above all, give a renewed thrill of pleasure every time it was looked at.

After working at Edward Barnard, Theo established a small workshop in Hatton Garden designing and creating silverware and then jewellery. His first shop opened in Chelsea’s Fulham Road with the founding of the eponymous company in 1982. Further boutiques opened and concessions in many of England’s most famous department stores, including Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, later these would be followed by similar boutiques across the globe, giving the company its international reputation.

Intelligent, witty design and exceptional craftsmanship are the cornerstones of Theo’s philosophy and, to ensure the highest quality, he insists most of his jewellery and silver is made by craftsmen with whom he has worked for many years.

This unique approach to every design has ensured that Theo’s highly prized creations, the result of an extraordinary, idiosyncratic imagination and dedicated team-work, are in some of the most interesting collections in the world.

Theo Fennell is generally acknowledged as Britain's foremost designer of jewellery and silverware. His pieces have been captivating the world for over 25 years. His unique work is truly innovative and distinctive stretching the boundaries of these crafts. The collections are more than just jewellery and silver. He is passionate about the originality and craftsmanship of every piece that passes through the workshops, above our flagship store at 169 Fulham Road, London.

ShowOff!, his show at the Royal Academy in 2007, changed many people's ideas about jewellery. It is the central tenet of Theo Fennell that jewellery and silverware should be original, beautifully crafted and designed, with immaculate attention to detail. For this reason, the company continues, as it first started, to base itself around its studios and workshops and these remain the heartbeat of the company and the reason it remains truly design lead

Theo takes inspiration from anything and everything. Our current collection is Bees Etc.

"Their buzz is the harbinger of a lazy summer’s day” says Theo, “yet they are so industrious. And what a job they do; going from pretty flower to flower pollinating and making honey; what a combination, sex and sweetness with a sting in the tail."

The collection is designed to be uplifting and delicate, wearable and sentimental. It can be as formal or informal as you want, as well as collectable. From a single bee bracelet to a big honeycomb cuff or a simple dragonfly pendant to a magnificent pair of bumble bee and briolette drop earrings, there is a spectrum as broad as nature in her infinite variety.

Theo always carries a sketch book with him, in case something catches his attention. From here, the sketches are discussed with the team who work with him. They all share ideas and interpretations and create technical artwork. Materials are chosen with our gemmologist and workshop manager, then a brief is given to the brilliant craftsman in our workshops. Nothing fazes our team, in fact, the more unusual or bizarre the challenge, the happier they are!

The breadth of Theo’s influences and inspirations is one of the reasons that the jewellery and silverware has such a wide and eclectic palette; from Ancient Greece to Rock n’ Roll, from graveyards to classic portraits, it all makes for an exciting and ever changing variety of pieces.

The heritage of British design and craftsmanship - its brilliant jewellers and silversmiths, its quirkiness of design and refusal to follow ephemeral fashion is something at the very heart of the company’s passion.

Theo always carries a sketch book with him, in case something catches his attention. From here, the sketches are discussed with the team who work with him. They all share ideas and interpretations and create technical artwork. Materials are chosen with our gemmologist and workshop manager, then a brief is given to the brilliant craftsman in our workshops. Nothing fazes our team, in fact, the more unusual or bizarre the challenge, the happier they are!

Some of the most talented craftsman in the world work at Theo Fennell, many of whom have worked with him for over 20 years, creating exceptional and one off pieces every day. Their attention to detail is in a league of its own and they share the same passion, love of experimentation and humour as Theo. Still using some of the most difficult and arcane techniques, Theo employs craftsmen whose art might otherwise have died out.

The Sui Generis pieces are the result of a team at the very top of their game.