About Stephen

Stephen Barnett Jewellery Classes UK Handmade CAD stone setting mount making classes

About Stephen Barnett Jewellery

Hi! My name is Stephen Barnett and I live and work in Surrey with my young family.

I am a freelance Jewellery tutor with 11 years experience in professional education. Prior to this, I gained over 12 years experience as a full time professional goldsmith. I now wish to bring this wealth of knowledge to you and your own practice as a jeweller and goldsmith.

I offer one to one classes that are tailored to your individual needs in mount-making, stone-setting, CAD, wax carving and almost any other aspects of the jewellery trade that may help you to develop your skills.

I teach at all levels from complete beginners to those in the industry looking to improve specific skills and can design a course of learning specific to your needs. I am very proud to be part of a chain of metalsmiths passing knowledge on from one generation to the next from far back in history and hope together we can forge the next link in the chain.

My history and experience

I have been working and teaching within the jewellery trade all my adult life. I have a large amount of experience in both jewellery manufacturing and education, starting work as a professional goldsmith in 2000 before turning my attention to teaching full time in 2012.

My bench manufacture work included the mounting and setting of precious gemstones across gold, platinum and silver. I also designed new collections and prepared them for production using CAD software. The great thing about working in industry like this was the range of skills I gained: I would be responsible for every part of a job from starting with scrap metal and diamonds to the finished, shining piece leaving the workshop. This was my true education as a goldsmith and I still use the skills learnt here every day.

I worked for Holts Academy and then the British Academy of Jewellery as a tutor and subject leader, specialising in traditional manufacture, stone setting and CAD for 11 years before starting my own company in 2023.

In both 2014 and 2018 I was awarded the accolade of Tutor of the Year - an achievement I am particularly proud of as it was voted for by students and fellow tutors.

I have also worked as a freelance jewellery tutor throughout this time. My experience in professional education has given a deep insight and knowledge of modern teaching methods and their practical application.