IF you like the idea of jewellery that has been inspired by faraway places and hand-made in North Yorkshire, take a look at the new collection by Renne.

Designed by mother and daughter duo Helen and Annie Rennison, it includes a beautiful range of necklaces, rings, pendants and bangles made from a combination of sterling silver and semiprecious stones.

The collection features pieces such as a quartz classic bracelet and turquoise twister choker with an amber pendant. Some feature charms and silver antique coins, others can be personalised and make ideal gifts for weddings and birthdays. All the semiprecious pieces are unique and have been created using stones such as turquoise, chrysoprase and coral. “We strive to create pieces that are classic and will be worn for many occasions to come,” says Helen.

After leaving school at 16, Annie decided to bypass the traditional route of A-levels and university and enrolled on a jewellerymaking course instead. “Throughout my childhood, I have always been very creative and trying to find a path to channel it proved difficult,” she says. “After a short silversmithing course in London, I realised I had found what I had been looking for and after finding a course closer to home, we both enrolled and the ball started rolling.”

Helen already had some experience, having done a silversmithing course when Annie was young. She ran a small business selling semi precious jewellery, so the idea of Renne was a natural progression. They set up a workshop and started experimenting with different designs.

Annie says the experience has been a huge learning curve. “Keeping a home/work balance has been difficult,” she says. “There are times when we need to remember we are at home and to leave the workshop behind.

The best part for me is having an idea or design and being able to make it into something for everyone else to wear.” Although they have different skills, they are both on the same wavelength when it comes to making decisions and choosing designs.

As well as the local landscape and people around them, inspiration also comes from legends and places they have been such as Australia, which is where the idea for the Oolana pieces came from.

“Both of us are very sentimental so our memories do flow throughout our collections,” says Annie. “When I was in Australia, I visited a place south of Cairns called the Babinda Boulders – a natural swimming pool in the middle of a rainforest. This is where the inspiration for the Oolana pieces came into play. The devil’s pool within the boulders holds a myth about a pair of doomed young lovers that holds great significance to the local Aboriginal people.”

Annie says her personal favourite is the open Oolana bangle “as it’s a piece that can be taken from day to evening, effortlessly,” she says.

“I like the way our pieces are very simple,” adds Helen. “You can wear one piece or stack six together. They can be worn in very different ways and appeal to women of all ages. This also relates to our semi-precious range.”

The most sought-after piece so far has been the stamped open bangle which people can personalise with quotes, dates and initials.

Prices vary from £20 for simple stacking rings to the Squink necklace which is £240 and takes the longest to make. The squink ensemble will also be available in the run-up to Christmas. “The design is so simple but once it is fastened and worn, it takes on a whole new identity,” says Annie.

All the pieces are made by hand at their workshop in North Yorkshire, the majority sold through their website or directly from the workshop. There is a constant flow of new designs and the jewellery is always gift-wrapped ready to give to a friend or loved one or to keep as a treat for yourself.

“In the future we would love to have a workshop/studio where our clients can come and visit and be able to try on pieces and discuss our collections,” says Annie.

  • For further info, visit rennejewellery.co.uk
  • Renne will be at the Country Living Fair in Harrogate from November 27 to 30.