Catarina’s journey into the world of jewellery began at 15 in Portugal, when she discovered her passion for the arts. After deciding to study arts in Lisbon, she was drawn to jewellery and goldsmithing, where she quickly realized that the process of design went beyond aesthetics—it was about telling meaningful stories through each piece. She experimented with materials ranging from metals like silver and brass to unconventional ones like plastic, acrylic, and glass, which all added depth to her designs.

Determined to further her craft, Catarina moved to the UK, where she pursued an HND Jewellery and Silversmithing course and a BA in Jewellery Design for Industry at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham. The pandemic challenged her access to traditional workshops, but it also led her to embrace Computer Aided Design (CAD), expanding her creative possibilities and allowing her to express her stories more freely through jewellery.

During her time at university, Catarina had the incredible opportunity to be part of the Medal Design Team for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games: designing the Commonwealth medals, ribbon, and medal boxes. Exhibitions and competitions also provided platforms to showcase her work. Outside of jewellery, her love for painting, drawing, dance, music, theatre, and the history of art continuously enriches her creative process.

Now, as a Jeweller, Catarina is inspired to give back by teaching the next generation of designers. She hopes to inspire students to not only create beautiful pieces but to see jewellery as a medium for storytelling, symbolism, and personal expression.