Bristol-based jeweller and NAJ member Diana Porter has died, aged 78, of cancer
03 Mar 2021
Born in Weston-super-Mare, in 1942, to George and Dorothy Porter, Diana lived nearly all her life in Bristol, and was devoted to the city, and in particular its vibrant alternative culture in the arts.
In her own words,
I wanted to be an actor. I trained as a teacher, had two children, was a single parent, did lots of amateur acting, found feminism, worked for twenty odd years as an arts administrator during which time I did fascinating jobs such as running theatre companies both in London & in Bristol, setting up a small scale theatre and community arts centre in Bristol, running Birmingham Women's Festival.
I campaigned for more money for the arts, for equality of opportunities for women, disabled people and ethnic minorities; I demonstrated against nuclear armaments. And then in 1990, I went to the University of Central England to do a 3-year full-time degree course in Jewellery and Silversmithing.
In 1999 she was named Jewellery Designer of the Year, having established a thriving workshop and outlet for her own work and that of others. She was always generous in her support of fellow makers. “I’m passionate about keeping the manufacture of my jewellery in the UK and now have the shop of my dreams with workshops behind it, in my beloved hometown of Bristol,” she once wrote.
She was committed to fairness, for all women, for her team, and in the sourcing of precious metals and gemstones. As an ethical campaigner, she was one of the first designers in the UK to produce a full collection in Fairtrade gold.
She loved to travel and her journeys included visiting artisanal mines in Bolivia, and gold-panners in California.
She is survived by her sister Jacqui, brother Donald, two daughters by her first marriage, Nicky and Lucie, grandchildren Lily and Billie, two great-granddaughters, and me (we met backstage of a production of “A Doll’s House” in 1973, and after 46 years of a shared life we married in 2019); and by her other ‘family’ in her workshop and gallery, who now carry her creativity and beliefs into the future. And by the lasting nature of her work; in the words she so often used on her jewellery and to such effect – “On and On”. Jeremy Dain (spouse)
From her team
“It has been the greatest honour for us to work alongside a strong and inspiring woman. A prolific creative mind, she was not only renowned for her innovative design but for creating work with integrity and honesty. She fought hard to raise awareness for women’s rights and promote equality. Diana’s passion for her work has been infectious; her collections like Diana herself, are so spirited and who she was as a person is palpable within her work.
“Over the years we have heard from hundreds of customers about what Diana’s jewellery has meant to them. How it has brought them comfort through difficult times or reminds them of a special person or moment in their lives. She loved meeting customers, finding out all about them, connecting with them through the design. She loved supporting upcoming and renowned designers, both through the gallery and also her own workshop. She was one of the first designers in the UK to produce her full collection in Fairtrade gold, with ethical sourcing at the forefront of her practises. She has been an inspiration to so many.”
It was her wish for Diana Porter Jewellery to go on….for us to continue what she has started.
Find out more about Diana Porter
Source: The National Association of Jewellers