'If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere'
 

Vincent Van Gogh

Shark Alley brings you a collection of charming, individual hand finished jewellery and homeware based on animals and birds with a strong emphasis on original and creative design.
 

All Shark Alley pieces are made in Brighton, UK by me, designer-maker Sarah Kelly, in my tiny studio close to the sea and are inspired by a passion for the fascinating patterns, shapes and textures found in nature and the English countryside, with a dash of Mediterranean thrown in too. Before Shark Alley, I worked for many years as an illustrator and crafter, with clients including ELLE magazine, Ecover, Oxford University Press and the designer Kaffe Fassett, and I think my work continues to reflect that illustrative quality.
 

I grew up drawing, sewing and crafting endlessly as well as loving wildlife, and many weekends and holidays were spent birdwatching and enjoying nature with my family. My grandfather was a passionate amateur botanist and photographer and his brother Gilbert corresponded with Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain about the bird life in St James's Park during the early years of the Second World War. 
 

Each animal design is based on original drawings, which are carefully refined until the shapes and patterns work together. Shark Alley designs do not conform to fleeting fashions or trends, but seek to produce timeless and beautiful pieces for you to enjoy wearing and using for many years to come.

And why Shark Alley?
It is an anagram of Sarah Kelly.