Mark P Fraser 

Modern Jewellery – Traditional Dirty Hands

Artist, creator, sculptor, silversmith, Mark Fraser makes extraordinary jewellery for extraordinary people. He lives and works in an old Smithy in the English Lake District.

It’s all about the bikes

Born in the North East, Mark bought his first motorbike at the age of 16 when he left home and first stood on his own two wheels. He travelled the length of the country and ran the gamut from sports bikes and streetfighters via sidecar racing and a number of lucky escapes to classic British, Harleys and beyond. He started building his fist proper chopper in about 2000 – a decision he took while flying through the air in the middle of yet another high-speed crash. Say what you like about a righteous long’n’low goose-necked hardtail, you just can’t ride it as fast as a gixer – and what’s more, you don’t need to. “The way I see it, man, it’s just safer...” (to quote Brian, off the Magic Roundabout)

Sticking it to the man

Moving to France in 2005 took him out of the rat-race and allowed him to take a new path. Whilst renovating an abandoned farmhouse he gave himself the time to focus on his passion for painting and metalwork, developing skills and techniques – prefering traditional artist and silversmithing techniques, including the rare and highly technical skill of hand-poured lost-wax casting. Mark built up his reputation in France through exhibitions and private sales. Mark is represented in the UK by a handful of galleries, and his jewellery and paintings are in collections here, across France and in Switzerland.

Mark found his first references for jewellery in the world of custom culture with its established symbols and iconography. He started out just making jewellery for himself, because he couldn’t find silver rings with the substance and integrity he was looking for. The jewellery he makes is solid and uncompromising.

Arts and Crafts Ideals – Autodidact polymath…

Mark is entirely self-taught and passionate about craft in art and the proud heritage of artisanal craftsmanship. He is a firm believer in the Ruskinesque ideals of retaining skills and knowledge by resisting both the division of labour and the outsourcing of technical expertise, preferring to work end-to-end, learning and mastering any techniques required to realise his vision. He is also a passionate advocate of the belief that to make something worthwhile, the artist must work. He makes all of his jewellery end-to-end from original design to finished creation.

“The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” Emile Zola

And friends, they may think it’s a movement

With two friends, in 2013 Mark created Artisan Uprising – a collective of craftsmen who practise and believe in artisanal skills. They believe in doing it themselves.” In real work, not spin and bullshit. “

All Mark’s unique and limited-edition silver jewellery for men and women is hand-crafted in solid sterling silver. His several collections reflect his varied interests and inspiration. But one thing remains constant: his belief in honest craftsmanship and solid tangible quality. All of his work is made end-to-end by Mark in his workshop in Cumbria. Nothing is out-sourced.

Mark Peter Fraser is registered with the Edinburgh Assay Office. All his pieces for sale are hallmarked.

Back to Partners