Hi Róis, tell everyone a bit about yourself and introduce your brand.
Hi everyone! I’m Róis (pronounced Rosh), the owner and maker behind Róis Scottish Sea Glass.
Since 2014 I’ve been creating jewellery made from sea glass that I have hand-picked from shores all over Scotland.
I love the process of travelling around our beautiful country in search of these treasures. I now have sea glass from 61 beaches across Scotland! Each place holds a special meaning for me as it holds memories of family adventures in the campervan, or bike rides on sunny days (or rainy days, let’s be honest).
Looking for meaning and beauty in everything has always been a big part of my outlook in life. Throughout my jewellery work I have worked alongside women’s projects that point us towards what it means to be whole as women and live as vibrantly as we were created to be. I see sea glass as such a beautiful symbol of hope to us. It speaks to the broken and says beauty can come forth even in these places; that when we come out of hiding in the deep waters, light will shine through us once again.
How would you describe your style?
My style is quite delicate and simple. I want the sea glass to attract the most attention, so I use materials that I think will showcase the uniqueness of each piece without distracting from it.
The style of the overall brand concentrates a lot on meaning and memory. Each piece comes with a map showing exactly where in Scotland it was collected, allowing the wearer to carry their own memories with each piece.
Can you tell us a bit more about the seaglass that you use and where you source them from?
Sea glass is mostly made from old broken bottles that were tossed into the sea decades ago, anywhere from 10 – over 100 years ago. The glass is then tossed around by the waves, being uniquely broken, reshaped and smoothed by the sand and sea before washing up as a smooth pebble-like piece of glass.
All the sea glass I use is collected from beaches across Scotland by myself or my friends. I have the best excuse for exploring beautiful and unknown corners around Scotland. We will often pack up the campervan and set off for a few days to an island we haven’t visited, or when I’m based in Glasgow I’ll escape the city by hopping on the train with my bike to catch a CalMac to my next destination on the Firth of Clyde
Do you have a favourite place to hunt for sea glass?
That is a HARD question! There are so many.
I found a spot just north from Glencoe which had both the stunning scenery and perfect sea glass. I still find it amazing that I was able to peel myself away! The mountains around me were glowing amber as the sun was setting, and my only onlookers were the sheep in the next field. It was such a beautiful spot and the sea glass was small and smooth – just perfect!
However, any campervan trip I’ve taken with my lovely mum is always top of the list because of the wonderful company. Orkney, Arran, and Skye all hold precious memories for me because of the special mother-daughter time.
Where do you like to create your work?
When not in lockdown, I spend every working day in my Glasgow studio in the west end. I love it! I have wonderful studio pals who put up with my drilling as I hide away in my small side studio. The big windows look out onto Glasgow University and I can pop into the park on my lunch breaks.
I also enjoy packing up a bag full of sea glass and jewellery-making essentials and creating new pieces on a park bench if the sun is shining!
Can you tell us a bit about the area you live/work in?
During lockdown I have been based in Evanton, Ross-Shire in the Highlands. It is a stunning part of the country where the hills around us protect us from the wind and often offer some of the clearest skies in the country.
The community owned Evanton Community Woods begins at the end of my street and surrounds the village, offering brilliant trails and views over the incredible Black Rock Gorge which featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
We also have Kiltearn beach just a few kilometers walk away where we like to take the kayaks out and seal spot on the Cromarty firth.
What would you recommend doing/seeing in your area to someone visiting?
Definitely a visit to Evanton Communtiy Woods. It’s very family friendly with an adventure playground, hidden picnic spots, and impressive community-built log cabins. My has dad been very involved in their construction so I’m biased!
A climb up Fyrish is also a must! The Fyrish monument is a spectacular huge archway built on top of the hill overlooking my village. It is a great walk with clear paths, and only takes an hour or so to climb making it very accessible.
If you would rather somewhere even more secluded then a walk along Loch Glass in search for the abandoned pink house will not disappoint! You will likely spot the heard of deer roaming the hills around you.
Are you working on any new products at the moment?
I am working on a sister project called Likha Jewellery Project. It is not my usual Scottish sea glass collection but is an initiative I have started with a charity in the Philippines who are working with women escaping prostitution. They love the symbolism of the sea glass so we have come up with their own style and branding to enable them to generate income away from the bars of Manila where they are likely to be exploited.
Can you pick out 4 or 5 things in your working space that you can’t live without?
My headphones
So I can tune out while working by listening to podcasts or audiobooks (Trevor Noah – Born A Crime was my last audiobook. I highly recommend!)
My 3 small pairs of jewellery making pliers
The same ones I used when I experimented with that first piece of (badly made) jewellery back in 2014.
My purple woolen scarf
It not only keeps me warm but also doubles up as a perfect background for an impromptu photoshoot.
Satsumas
I need at least 2 to get me through the day.
My handheld Dremel 3000 Drill
For when I want to bug my studio pals and experiment with something other than wire wrapping.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR WORK?
