Bernard Doherty Artist in Gold

Professional History.

Lecturer Albany TAFE  Indigenous Program Jewellery 2005

Lecturer Albany TAFE  Jewellery 2004

B.A. (ACS) Griffith 1993.

Design and Silver smithing, John Cass College, London.1971-2

Trade Certificate Jewellery, Kangaroo Point Tech 1970.


Exhibitions work sales.

Award of Excellence Japan Shippo Confrence 2012.

Selected Japan Shippo Confrence 2012.

Selected Gold and Silversmiths Guild Exhibition ‘Egyptian Revival’ Gray Reid Gallery 2011

Selected for exhibition 2007 Alice Craft Acquisition.

Jewellery Journey – Buenos Aires Argentina 2006/2007 travelling exhibition.

Selected for exhibition 2007 Japan Shippo Enamelling Symposium. (finalist)

Jewellery Journey – Hamburg Germany  2006/2007 travelling exhibition.

Selected for exhibition 2005 Alice Craft  Acquisition.

Selected for exhibition 2005 Japan Shippo Enamelling Symposium.

One Man show 2002 Accent Gallery Perth.

The first solo enameling exhibition was held at the Accent Gallery Perth Western Australia in August 2002 and was considered a great success. Bernard is kept busy with commissions and regularly sends work to an agent in London for resale and has made sales into North America through the Web.


Enamelists are few in number, because the medium is demanding and unforgiving. Plique-a-Jour enamelling being the technique that is the least seen and practised by very few. This technique, which resembles miniature stained glass and is reminiscent of its Art Nouveau influences, reminds one of the past glories of skilled metalsmiths and jewellers. The intricate metalwork skeletons require knowledge and skill in fashioning fine filigree forms, which are then complimented by breathtakingly coloured enamels. The rich colour of the transparent enamels is wondrous, as the observer turns a piece in the light the colours are seen in different shades appearing to bring the design alive.  


Bernard has always been enthralled by the Art Nouveau period and with it getting its inspiration from themes from nature. His work features Dragonflies Bugs and Butterflies. He believes that people should have a little colour in their lives.  Look in most jewellery shop windows and you will see yellow gold and diamonds. White, we are told is the most popular car colour and people paint the inside of their houses a putty colour. No he is not just an ageing Hippie he just believes that with all the colour choices available in gem stones it is very limiting to confine your self to diamonds and gold.


Bernard began his fascination with eclectic design when as a youngster of twelve he began making jewellery and jugs from old copper boilers. At the completion of his secondary schooling Bernard entered a four-year apprenticeship with a leading jewelley manufacturer in Brisbane. This proved to be a fortunate move as he excelled in his chosen profession. One of Bernard's duties as an apprentice was to enamel assorted badges with vitreous enamel and it was here, that he developed a fascination for the process, which is predominant in his art. At the completion of his apprenticeship Bernard headed for Europe. During his time in London Bernard worked for the celebrated Andrew Grimer, one of Europe's leading contemporary jewellers. Leaving there he moved to the famous jewellery manufacturing area of Hatton Garden to work for Len Wilson and Co where he was given free rein to design and manufacture any piece of jewellery that he could imagine. The designs were sold at Len Wilson's Baker Street store, throughout Europe and the United Arab Emirates.


On returning to Australia, Bernard established his own business in Brisbane doing speciality manufacturing, design work, and selling estate and antique jewellery. During one of his frequent visits to the UK to purchase stock for the store he had the good fortune to meet an old craftsman. He had learned his craft from his late father who was a craftsman at one of the manufacturing jewellers doing work for Lalique in the late 1800's in Europe. This association helped Bernard develop a unique perspective, which encompassed the grandeur of that cultural period of jewellery design, not to mention the tips on manufacturing and repairing jewellery from that period that he learned.  In 1999 the business was sold and he worked form a studio in the countryside for many years, however now age has caught up and he has retired from jewellery and enamelling.

Copyright all images and designs Bernard Doherty 1948 - 2025