About David

Hello, I'm David Neale. I live and work in Melbourne, Australia. 

I've been making jewellery for over 30 years. A rural upbringing and love of nature has shaped my style.

It seems to me that I've always been making small objects and collecting earth's treasures- and I am especially drawn to the lustrous yellow metal known as gold!  At some early age I felt that I was an artist, sculptor, jeweller- or... all of those things!

I remember tinkering with metal, but realising that my ideas were beyond my skill to execute. There's so many metalworking secrets to unlock (I'm still learning!)- so I enrolled in RMIT University's Gold and Silversmithing course.

There, it was fascinating to learn ancient metalworking techniques from Dr Robert Baines OAM -as well as contemporary jewellery ideas with renowned makers Marian Hosking, Mark Edgoose and Sally Marsland. 

At age 19, my work was selected by Mari Funaki to represented in her prestigious contemporary jewellery venue; Gallery Funaki. Later I would go on to show with Galerie Jewelers Werk, USA -and several other galleries. It was exciting to have my jewellery acquired by institutions like the National Gallery of Victoria! Admittedly though, I wondered; what do I want my jewellery to be for? For museums?

The answer was simple. It's for People. 

This lead to a change in focus, and then I found a wider audience through social media, and... this website!

I love to work directly with people, and to make treasures that will be gifted, worn, (every day!) and even handed down. Jewellery can hold our stories, declare our loves and, most especially- punctuate our unique identities! This is what jewellery does, what jewellery is for.

-David Neale