ABOUT ME
Growing up in the Netherlands, I was captivated by contemporary jewellery that thrived as an art form since the 1960s, during my Art History and Architecture studies in Amsterdam, although I was first surrounded by fine jewellery through family.
After spending years living in London, it was my activist spirit that finally shaped my path as an artist. My journey into jewellery artistry began unexpectedly when I encountered masses of debris and plastic washed ashore at an Alpine lake. This discovery sparked my first creation - a statement neckpiece crafted primarily from sharp glass, carrying an environmental message about our Earth's fragility and our urgent need to better protect our planet. Through this, I realised that creating jewellery could serve as a powerful medium for my personal expression.
Today, I create from my studio in the Swiss Alps, where nature's raw poetic beauty continually inspires my artistic vision. As an independent thinker, I sought to forge my own path, spending time developing unprecedented wire methods that allow me to create organic structures predominantly by hand. This signature technique evolved gradually, becoming the foundation of my artistic language.
My work manifests through two distinct collections: Arty Scenes, where I express myself through societal critique, inspired by internal reflection or world events, transformed into wearable art jewels that carry profound narratives. In Conversation Pieces, I celebrate Earth's beauty through unique structures set with carefully chosen stones and gems, creating intuitively designed raw jewels that challenge traditional fine jewellery conventions.
Working independently, I embrace the slow pace of creation. Each piece is a true one-of-a-kind jewel, reflecting my belief that authentic artistic expression cannot be replicated and must be approached with pure intention and honesty. My pieces resonate with collectors who value artistic integrity and individual expression - some carrying a hint of raw luxury, others standing as bold artistic statements.
Every creation bears my unmistakable signature, inviting a different way of thinking about what jewellery can be. As I continue to evolve as an artist, I'm excited to explore new horizons while staying true to my artistic vision.
Group Exhibitions:
2018 - Artistar Jewels, Milan, Italy
2019 - Artistar Jewels, Milan, Italy
2024 - SIERAAD & friends, Buren, The Netherlands
2024 - Cluster, the Contemporary Jewellery Fair, Shoreditch London G.B.
Concept stores:
2018 - Xbank, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, for some years
2023 - Objet d’ Emotion by Valery Demure, Marylebone, London G.B..
2024 - Marina Anouilh, Gstaad & Geneva, Switzerland
Projects:
2024 - 2025 University, Instituto Marangoni, a master student photography project, Florence, Italy
2025 - U.A.L., the University of the Arts in London reached out for an interview.
Features:
2019 - Gioiellis Magazine, Klimt02, and more, connected to the Artistar Jewels Milan group exhibition.
2020 - Article, "Le Serti de Filaire de Sheila Westera" / "The Wired Settings of Sheila Westera," The French Jewelry Post, by jewellery journalist Sandrine Merle.
2020 - VO+ Magazine, international jewellery publication. Article: "Names to Know: Sheila Westera," by jewellery journalist Antonella Reina.
2021 - Article, "Sheila Westera’s Uniquely Sophisticated and Luxurious Fine Jewelry Forms a Genre unto Itself," in Forbes Magazine U.S., by jewellery and watch journalist Kyle Roderick.
2023 - NYJW: New York Jewellery Week, featured on the discovery page
2024 - Vakblad Edelmetaal, Dutch federation of Gold & Silver
2024 - The Jewellery Trendbook Forecast 2025, The luxury forecasting
2025 - The Jewellery Trendbook Forecast 2026, The future of jewellery
2018-2024 Several magazine features and editorials.
