About the Artist: Andy Wilx, Silent Thief

Andy Wilx

Andy explains his inspiration for the design:

“I’m intrigued by the idea of taking something as beautiful as a bird and making it more beautiful with gold and jewels. By giving the bird a simple piece of jewellery you instantly create a narrative:

A robin perched on a fence, is just that; but a robin wearing a necklace perched on a fence is the beginning of a story. The bird is no longer part of the scenery but becomes an actor, centre-stage.

This isn’t to anthropomorphise the bird as much as to give the viewer an intriguing reference and provoke curiosity and stir our imagination.

The design for this watch is part of a series of works that I’ve created, which collectively form the Adorned Series. These works are all thematically linked by the idea of adornment - that is to make more beautiful or attractive.”

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Andy Wilx makes art and objects that you simply can’t take your eyes off, but he also wants to inspire a story.

At first glance it is the natural world that informs an Andy Wilx design, but take a closer look and you’ll enter a world of fantasy and enchantment that wouldn’t be out of place in Carroll’s Wonderland or Pullman’s Dark Materials.

In all of his work a central character, usually an animal, poses a question of how and why and thus invites us to construct a narrative. His use of decorative patterns, opulent colours and 24ct gold, recall the lushness of William Morris and the lustre of a medieval manuscripts.

Not wanting to restrict his designs to one medium or discipline you can find Andy’s work screen printed and hanging on walls, gold gilded glass installations or adorning furniture.

Andy has also illustrated a number of books including Star Stories by Anita Ganeri.

Andy Wilx is based in Thames Ditton, London.

You can see more of Andy’s work here: www.andywilx.com