The first thing that strikes you about the jewellery made by Clare Stiles is the vivid colours she uses.

Metal bangles are imprinted in shocking red, pink and turquoise and overlaid with intricate prints of dragonflies and feathers.

Clare, 34, creates beautiful pieces of jewellery from her studio in the Farnham Maltings.

Her work involves bracelets, earrings and necklaces made from anodised aluminium.

This unusual technique allows her to easily transfer patterns on to the metal.

“I discovered this technique at college and it is a great was to get colour on to the piece of jewellery,” she said.

“I really enjoy using colour and I take inspiration from aspects of nature, like tropical fish. However, my last two collections have been centred around a damask design and textiles.”

Clare, who has lived in Farnham all her life, first discovered her passion for jewellery at school. “I have been making jewellery for friends and family for as long as I can remember,” she said.

She went on to study jewellery making at the University College for the Creative Arts in Farnham.

After graduating in 1997, she moved straight into her Farnham Maltings studio and has been growing her business steadily since then.

She sells her work at galleries throughout the country and supplements her income with teaching.

“I run a holiday workshop for children at the Maltings, teach adult jewellery classes and also sometimes lecture at the college,” she said.

“I would say I split my time about 50/50 teaching and jewellery making,” she added.

Clare gets most of her business from an annual trade show she attends.

“I exhibit at the British Craft Trade Fair every April when gallery owners come and look at my work. I then get phone calls throughout the year from people who want to stock it,” she said.

Last year Clare won a grant from the Arts Council. She used the money introduce a wider range of products, such as wall hangings, and write a book about new and experimental ways of using aluminium.

She is currently showing off her work at Farnham Maltings' New Ashgate Gallery in an exhibition called 'Group, Individual'.

The exhibition runs until August 2

For more information, call Clare on 07958 780663 or email clarestilesdesign@hotmail. com.