Artist Bio – Gareth Eckley

Making Beautiful Jewelry & Gemstone Art for over 40 Years! Now creating Bitcoin Art with Gemstone Carving and Precious Gems.

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Hello, I am Gareth Eckley. I make gemstone Art for Bitcoiners. Great art provokes an emotional response. Important Bitcoin concepts can be explained in a beautiful art piece.

I’ve been exploring Bitcoin for the last three years. After many hours of going down the rabbit hole, I decided that from January 1st, 2022, I would devote a hundred percent of myself to promoting Bitcoin, its acceptance, and its adoption.

I wondered how I could help. I don’t have a background in finance, a computer degree, or detailed knowledge of cryptography.

What I do know is how to make beautiful jewels with gemstones, diamonds, gold, and silver, that have an impact on people. Creative ideas come to me easily. I can translate these concepts into visual art.

This is my superpower. I use all my skills and experience to make my Bitcoin-inspired, gemstone art and jewelry.

A Jewelers Life

As selection of people who have commissioned or been presented with my jewelry.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

A Crown Prince from Dubai, UAE

1977-jack-john-warner-and-elizabeth-taylor-home

A United States Senator

Sir Anthony Hopkins, Film Star

The Pocahontas Cameo Brooch

Locket with a secret Cameo

blue-cameo-daughter-white-gold-ellie-master-home

Portrait Cameo in White Gold

Pink & White Diamonds, Morganite

Artist Statement

I believe that beauty is important. I have spent my whole life in pursuit of this ideal. The best Art tells a story or reveals a deeper truth.

I want to create a ‘ body of work ‘ that celebrates Bitcoin.

My work has been a search to make beautiful jewels, that will have an emotional impact on others. My Art may be around for thousands of years, as gemstones and gold last forever. It is rare to be able to leave a legacy such as this.

I love the jewels of Art Nouveau and the Art Deco. Rene Lalique is my favorite jeweler. Faberge also inspires me, as does the gold work of the Pre-Colombian, Maya, Inca, and Aztecs. Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me, for its jewels, sculture and archeology.

Generosity has been important in my life. Lady Diana Gibson-Watt was an early supporter, she opened many doors for me and become my friend. Whenever I have been generous to others, I have been repaid with kindness and support.

Gareth in his studio. The Bitcoin 3D Price/Spiral is shown in the background. You can also see some of his workbenches. The display shelves show anatomical plaster reference casts, that Gareth has used for his portrait cameo jewelry.

Proof of Work

My 40 year history as an artist jeweler, gem carver hand engraver and designer.

Jewelry Statement - click to open

For 42 years Gareth has been gemstone carving, hand engraving and carving family crests in gold and stone, gold-smithing, and creating custom jewelry designs.

Gareth has created custom jewels for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Prime Minister of Canada, a Crown Prince from the United Arab Emirates, a United States Senator, Lady Diana Gibson-Watt, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Lady Janice Mitchell, and others throughout the World.

Gareth discovered Bitcoin in 2018. What started as an investing play, developed into a journey ‘down the rabbit hole’. Gareth is now focused on helping the adoption of Bitcoin and giving a portion of all sales to charity.

My purpose is to create beautiful jewels that matter for people who care. My most important work is for people who have lost a loved one. I do everything that I can to make a portrait that the mother will fall in love with.

I feel that I channel the spirit of the subject into the stone. The moment when the portrait comes to life is magical and often very moving.

My customers have a love and generosity that guides them to trust me to make this special gift. I feel so honored when I am asked to help. This is my way to make a positive change in the world.

Gareth has been carving cameos with such precision and grace that they have attracted the attention of several discerning collectors..Diana Jarrett, page 267, Cameos Old and New.

Regarded as the finest portrait cameo artist in North America. Gareth is an award-winning jewelry designer, gemstone carver, family crest carver, and hand engraver.

Gareth trained in the United Kingdom with the finest old-school jewelers. He is a master of traditional craft skills and techniques, that can only be learned in Europe. Gareth has 30 years of experience working at the highest level of skill and technique.

Work Experience - click to open

Gareth has won many accolades for my custom Jewelry design and gemstone carving. These include major national awards from prestigious national organizations.

De Beers Diamonds Today Award for jewelry design, Goldsmiths Craft Council, Craftsman of the year competition – 7 awards, The Platinum Guild Award for excellence in Platinum design and manufacture – 3 awards.

His award-winning work has been exhibited at Goldsmiths Hall, the British Design Centre, De Beers, The Victoria & Albert Museum, Olympia in London, and at the Basle fair in Switzerland.

An International reputation for Excellence

Each portrait is hand-carved from your photos by Gareth. Widely regarded as the finest portrait cameo artist in North America. Gareth also designs and makes exquisite settings for every custom jewel.

For the last 37 years, Gareth has been gemstone carving, hand engraving and carving family crests in gold and stone, gold-smithing, and creating custom jewelry designs. He carved his first portrait cameo in 1997.

Gareth is one of a very select group of gemstone portrait artists. Great skill, artistry, and experience are needed to be able to create accurate portraits.

He is very passionate about his art and loves to meet his clients whenever possible. He has been creating work for over 28 years. Some of his clients have been collecting his work for over 20 years.

Gareth feels strongly that for a cameo portrait to work he must feel that he “knows” the subject. It is essential to know the person’s name and their nature to enthuse the portrait carving with their spirit.

Professional Training and Expertise

Education

Medway College of Art & Design, United Kingdom, 1980-1984. Four-year Degree covering all aspects of Jewellery, Silversmithing, Hand Engraving, Jewellery casting, Jewellery design, Wax carving, goldsmithing, and gemmology.

FGA: Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. 1979-1980.

Work Experience

1982-1984 George Lukes Engravers Ltd, London, England. Worked as a hand engraver with the top engraver in the UK at the time.

1984-1987 Christopher Wharton Designer Jewellers Ltd, London, England. Worked as a Goldsmith, engraver, and Diamond setter.

1987-1991 Gareth Eckley Designer Jewellers, Wales, UK. Self-employed as a Jewellery designer, Goldsmith, hand engraver, diamond setter, jewelry valuation, gem cutting, and family crest carving.

1991-1993 Customgold Jewelers, Vancouver, Canada. Employed as a Goldsmith, hand engraver, diamond setter, wax carver, and jewelry polisher.

1993-2021 Gareth Eckley – Portrait Cameos. Gemstone carver, cameo artist, portrait artist, Jewelry designer, Goldsmith, hand engraver, diamond setter, and family crests.

2022-Today Gareth Eckley – Bitcoin Gem Art.

Social Links

Follow me on Twitter, Nostr and on my YouTube channel