Our Story Shines
Behind every workshop door and showroom window is a story worth telling.
From master craftspeople to family run businesses, these are the people who shape the Jewellery Quarter past, present and future. Meet the makers, traders and visionaries whose stories bring the Jewellery Quarter to life every day.
Welcome to “Where individuality Shines”.
The Indian Brewery Company
Jaspal Purewal
Imposter Group
Ed Shawcross
JDD Furniture
Joe & James
My journey with Maneki Ramen started from a real passion for simple, honest food and a desire to build something that felt personal. I’ve spent years working in kitchens, learning my craft, but what really drove me was the idea of creating a place where the food reflects who you are — not just following trends, but cooking with intent and consistency.
Maneki Ramen Birmingham is built around that idea. It’s about bold, comforting food done properly — ramen that’s been thought about, refined and executed with care. But beyond that, it’s about creating a space that feels welcoming, relaxed and genuine, where people can come in and feel looked after.
What makes it different for me is the journey behind it. Through ART Hospitality, I’ve been able to step into a Chefpreneur role — which means having real ownership and responsibility in building the business. That changes everything. You approach every detail differently when it’s something you’re truly invested in.
For me, it’s not just about running a restaurant — it’s about building something that reflects who I am as a chef and creating something that lasts.
My name is Amy and I'm the owner and founder of The Brutally Honest Bakery. I used to be a teacher (largely, a thankless task) but I gave it up to become a mum.
I set up the bakery after my son was diagnosed with multiple allergies and having encountered a very real struggle to find indulgent cakes in cafés and coffee shops that were free from dairy, egg, gluten and nuts, I decided to make my own.
You will often hear me talking (if you pop by the cake counter) about "inclusive cakes" - the small gesture which means a huge amount; the joy when someone actually remembers your dietary requirements.
It was the reason I set up The Brutally Honest Bakery. I wanted to create cakes that EVERYONE can enjoy.
And there’s a reason I harp on about it. Because that feeling of being included, of someone actually making an effort, is really powerful. But it also has a knock-on effect I don’t talk about as much.
My name is Kaye and I’m a Birmingham-based food and sensory artist with over 25 years’ professional experience working across visual art, food, moving image and performance.
For me, food is far more than nourishment. It holds the potential to create deeper connections and spark meaningful conversations. It can tell stories, summon memories, and engage all five senses - making it a powerful and expressive medium for artistic practice.
In 2021, I moved my studio to the JQ and founded a private dining room, GULP, alongside it. This is the UK’s first space dedicated to exploring food art histories and championing innovation in food and sensory design. At GULP, I create bespoke dining experiences, immersive supper clubs, and creative workshops that invite people to engage with food in new and unexpected ways.
Some popular experiences include The Reading Table - where food and literature meet at the table; and C.U.Next Tuesday - an intimate supper club for women, based on gentle networking, conversation and excellent food.
Alongside this, I collaborate with clients to design and produce off-site events and sensory-led experiences, offering both creative direction and consultancy.
Rooted in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, GULP offers a truly unique environment where food, art and social connection come together — a space where individuality is not only celebrated, but experienced.
I never planned to become a chef. My original ambition was to be a tree surgeon, but life took me in a completely different direction.
My food journey began in the United States in 1998, when an opportunity with my former partner led us to start cooking from a small apartment. Before long, the neighbours were asking to buy the food, and what began as something informal started to grow into a business.
After having to leave the country, I came to the UK as an asylum seeker and began rebuilding my life. Food became a way to share my culture, create new connections and build something of my own.
I’ve been based in Birmingham since 2014, and El Azteca has continued to grow through hard work, resilience and a love of authentic food. In 2025, we opened a pop-up downstairs at 1000 Trades. Following its success, El Azteca found a permanent home upstairs, giving us the opportunity to welcome even more people.
For me, El Azteca is about more than serving food. It represents my journey, the opportunities I’ve created along the way and the community that has supported me.
My name is Kate, and I’m the designer and maker behind Kate Smith Jewellery.
I’ve been creating jewellery for over 25 years — what started as a love of making with my hands has grown, piece by piece, into something much more personal.
Because that’s really what this is about.
Not trends or mass production, but jewellery that means something. The pieces you reach for every day, or that quietly hold a moment in time.
A big part of my work is remodelling — taking existing jewellery and giving it a new life. There’s something incredibly special about that process, and the trust that comes with it.
Alongside that, I create my own collections, inspired by natural textures and the beauty in things that aren’t perfectly polished.
Everything is made by hand in my Birmingham workshop, using responsibly sourced materials and years of experience behind every piece.
My name is Jo, and I am the designer and maker behind Hellcat Jewellery.
For over a decade, I’ve established myself as the gothic jeweller of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, dedicated to creating high-quality, handcrafted pieces for our alternative community. My work is for the seekers of the strange and the lovers of the bold—those who want their jewellery to reflect a soul that isn’t perfectly polished.
I focus on making the best possible pieces to celebrate individuality and life's most profound moments. Whether it’s an alternative engagement ring that defies tradition or a bespoke memorial commission that honours love and loss, I believe jewellery should be a powerful, permanent symbol of your personal story.
Everything is handcrafted at my bench in the JQ, combining traditional hand skills with a rebellious heart. This is more than jewellery; it’s a celebration of a lifestyle and a legacy that stays with you forever.
I’m Julie and I'm a jewellery designer and maker with a love for creating beautiful, wearable, one-off pieces by hand. My work is inspired by traditional craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and a belief in making things as ethically as possible. I love working with unusual semi-precious stones, and they often inspire the design of a piece.
I began my working life as a commercial sculptor, following my degree in Fine Art/Sculpture. I made large-scale prototypes for children’s coin-operated rides, shop window mannequins and small-scale toys such as Polly Pocket and the Wombles. I have always loved working with my hands, mastering tools and techniques.
I had a long break from the creative industries, when I worked in secondary schools delivering enterprise and employability programmes. But following the loss of my husband to cancer in 2016, and with my life put firmly into perspective, I had an overwhelming urge to be creative again. So I started to make silver jewellery with some of my huge collection of crystals that I had been collecting for many years. I did a three-hour class in the Jewellery Quarter to learn how to solder, and the rest, as they say, is history.
My connection to The Hive, where Star23 is based, came through Argent and Glasshouse Colleges, where I worked as a work experience co-ordinator and then handmade paper-making tutor, while continuing to develop my jewellery-making. I still get to work with the students from the college as I can now offer them work experience.
I feel extremely privileged to have this amazing space for my business. Having previously traded at fairs and festivals, as well as working from my home studio, it is an absolute dream to be part of the dynamic and creative melting pot that is the JQ. I still feel like I have so much to learn, and there is a wealth of experience and talent to draw on from others around here, all on my doorstep!
When I am not at the workshop, I can usually be found trading at small grassroots festivals with the other arm of my business: a size-inclusive, ethical clothing range. I regularly travel to India to handpick beautiful fabrics, visiting small, family run tailors to ensure conditions are good, paying a fair price, and only ordering very small runs of 20-40 garments to limit waste and ensure that the items of clothing are unique. When travelling around Rajasthan, it’s impossible not to fall in love with beautiful craft items produced by local artisans, so I often select a few special ones to ship home for my stall.
An aim for the future, alongside developing my own jewellery practice, is to run relaxed, welcoming workshops at Star23 HQ where people can experience the joy of making for themselves. A massive advantage of the workshop is that it is wheelchair accessible. I have already hosted some ring-making and bangle-making workshops here, and I hope to deliver more paper-making and other craft-based workshops at The Hive’s amazing Makers Studio next door.
So, that’s me, in a nutshell: a bit of an arty, punky, hippy with a love of shiny things and a lust for life. Come and say hello!
My name is Marcus but people who are more familiar call me M-Bones, it’s a long story that I’ll have to get into another time. I’m a self-taught wax carver specialising in the creation of unique, hand-carved wax models for the jewellery industry.
With over 28 years of experience in jewellery casting and manufacturing, I combine technical expertise with artistic creativity to design and create one-of-a-kind wax models and bespoke jewellery. Every piece I make reflects my client’s individual style, story, and personality, transforming ideas into beautifully crafted, wearable works of art.
I’ve built my career having no formal training, but through hands-on experience and training. Although I attended a basic jewellery-making course at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham during 1997–98, my specialist skills in wax carving have been developed through decades of practical work within the jewellery manufacturing industry. My passion for craftsmanship, continuous learning, and attention to detail has enabled me to establish a reputation for creating highly individual bespoke pieces.
I began my career working for two of the UK’s most respected jewellery casting and manufacturing companies: Weston Beamor & Domino in Birmingham (1998–2008) and Niagara Falls Castings in Warwickshire (2008–2018). It was during this time that I first entered the world of wax carving. Initially working as part of the production team, taking a shine to repairing damaged wax models, preparing them for the lost wax casting process, and ensuring they were production-ready, as well as all the other aspects of jewellery production, like Mould-cutting and Casting to name just a few. This invaluable experience gave me a deep understanding of jewellery production, which gradually evolved into a passion for designing and hand-carving original wax models. Following redundancy in 2018, I turned that passion and ability into my own successful business.
My inspiration comes from every aspect of nature and everyday life. Organic forms, textures, patterns, and the personal stories behind each commission all influence my work. Whether I’m creating jewellery to celebrate the birth of a child, mark a milestone birthday, commemorate an achievement, express a deeply held belief, or simply make a distinctive fashion statement, I believe every piece should have some meaning. I work very closely with my clients to transform their ideas into jewellery that is both personal and timeless.
One of my many goals is to create jewellery that celebrates individuality while showcasing exceptional craftsmanship. Alongside bespoke commissions, I also offer private wax carving classes from my studio in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, located within the newly recognised World Craft City. Through these classes, I share the traditional skills and techniques that have shaped me during my own journey and career.
One of my proudest achievements has been passing on my knowledge by teaching wax carving with Master Peace Academy CIC, where I’ve helped aspiring jewellers develop the skills needed to achieve City & Guilds Levels 2, 3, and 4 in Jewellery Making. I’ve also delivered introductory wax carving workshops at The Hive and was invited to the School of Jewellery to take part in a Careers Day event. My work has been featured at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where photographs and examples of my wax carvings have been displayed. In addition, I’ve supported local schools through work experience and careers programmes, helping to inspire the next generation of jewellery designers and makers.
Today, I continue to combine traditional craftsmanship with imaginative design, creating bespoke jewellery that tells a story, preserves memories, and celebrates life’s most meaningful moments. I’m really passionate about sharing my knowledge, inspiring others to develop their skills, and ensuring the art of hand-carved wax modelling continues to thrive into the future, for the future generations.
Whether you have a clear design in mind or just the spark of an idea, I’d be honoured to help you bring that vision to life. If you’re a jeweller and want a wax model, if you’re not and looking for a truly personal piece of jewellery, or you’re interested in the traditional art of wax carving and want to learn more, please get in touch. Together, we can create something special that will be treasured and cherished for years to come.
I'm a costume and fashion designer with a studio based in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter. We have a few different sections to the business, but it’s all just clothing for different purposes.
Most of our work is designing and making costumes for theatre and film. I have an online shop full of ‘made to order’ pieces (which are all very theatrical). I also offer bespoke dressmaking from the clients ideas, and run an alterations service for occasion wear and bridal.
I have a very strong style identity, so if you want a corseted tulle ensemble with a gothic edge, you're probably coming to me! I have always loved clothes, the more extravagant the better. Watching Sci-Fi and Fantasy TV as a kid was super inspiring, it was Sarah's Ballgown from the Labyrinth that started the obsession with costume.
Like many people I learnt sewing from my grandmother, she lived in a different city, so could only teach me the basics. Knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life, I built on my skills at fashion college.
Learning how to make and alter clothing was a necessity for me, as nothing ever fits quite right when you're only 4ft10! Especially none of the goth clothing I wanted to wear in my teenage years.
I went from altering clothes, to finally completing my education at University, studying costume with performance design.
I have been working in the stage and screen industry ever since, never having what most people consider a ‘proper job’, I just went from freelance projects to casual contracts.
As my favourite part of all these jobs was the practical side, I invested in a large space where I can design, make and see clients.
I wanted to grow the business and employ skilled local people from the west midlands. London is where the majority of the production companies are, but this is changing and they are outsourcing to companies further afield. The JQ is a great place for my studio, it's creative, friendly and easy for clients to visit.
When asked why I called my company Love Leanne Clothing, it stems from when I gave gifts, made things or sent messages to friends and family, I would sign off ‘Love from Leanne’.
This grew into my brand name and became Love Leanne Clothing. I still put 100% into everything I make and quality is at the forefront of what I do, as it's always made with love.
My name is Gary and I'm the owner of Progress Music Academy and co-owner of Soundworks Birmingham Ltd - two sister companies based right here in the wonderful Jewellery Quarter.
As a resident of the Jewellery Quarter, Progress Music Academy was born in 2009 with a vision to bring a fresh, modern approach to music tuition in Birmingham. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of students from the JQ, across Birmingham and internationally, as well as contributing to a range of BBC television projects. We’ve also become an official supplier to JLR cars through their employee benefit scheme and are proud to be Birmingham’s exclusive Trinity Rock & Pop exam centre.
Over the years, I’ve also had the pleasure of watching the Jewellery Quarter grow into a vibrant creative hub, home to a diverse range of businesses while still retaining its unique heritage.
Up until 2025, I spent over 15 years working with the world-renowned Marshall Amplification, supporting artists globally and contributing to the development of musical instruments - while continuing to grow the music school during the day.
More recently, we’ve transformed a previously unused building on Spencer Street into our newest venture, Soundworks Birmingham - a dedicated recording studio and music production learning space.
I’ve been so fortunate to work with people from all walks of life, united by a shared love of music. Whether through live showcases, stadium shows, festivals, workshops, student performances or recording opportunities, nothing brings people together quite like music.
I’m incredibly proud of the community we’ve built, and the Jewellery Quarter provides the perfect backdrop for it.
My name is Elliot and I'm the rooftop Gardener at The Hive.
After dropping out of university and facing struggles with my mental health, the garden became my haven and my therapy. Growing food, nurturing the land and nurturing myself in the process.
My first year growing food was with my grandparents on their allotment at 19 years old, and after experiencing the transformative effects, I never looked back. I took on my own allotment, taught myself horticulture and DIY, building greenhouses raised beds and more.
Medicinal plants and unique herbs/vegetables are what originally inspired me; I went on to work with many chefs, design and build kitchen gardens and make preserves, medicine and skincare from my garden produce.
Its the transformative effects of horticulture that led me here to Argent Colleges rooftop garden, teaching SEN students and growing produce for the Hive. Imparting my understanding of nature’s healing power into their learning journey, to make sowing a seed and nurturing a plant a transformative process in their lives too.
I'm Maya, a Fine Artist with a Studio in the Jewellery Quarter.
I studied Fine Art at University, graduating in 2011 and completing a PGCE shortly after. Then because of life circumstances I had a break from seriously pursuing a creative career for a few years.
In late 2024 I developed Chronic Health issues and as such had to give up 'normal' work. Initially I was almost entirely bedbound for months and started drawing daily on my iPad and posting on social media daily.
After a few months I started attending events at Stryx Gallery either alone or with my children. I immediately felt at home. I learned about their Mothership Studio and I joined with my then 3 year old daughter. I then had a space to reconnect to my Artistic Practice once a week.
Quickly I reconnected and found my visual language, a few months after I started exhibiting around Birmingham and further afield.
I have exhibited in over 16 venues nationally, had a solo show, 2 collaborative exhibitions, a residency and other things planned.
I make distorted portraits in Oil, my work is often autobiographical and subvertive telling fragmented patchworked stories.
