Kirra-lea Caynes is a Tasmanian-based metal artist and trade-qualified jeweller with over a decade of experience. Drawing inspiration from nature and found objects, she crafts unique jewellery, tableware, and sculptures using metals like copper, silver, gold, and platinum. Her innovative approach, particularly in sand casting and cast-in-place stone techniques, has earned her multiple accolades, including the 2019 JAA Jeweller of the Year award for her piece Plumage. Beyond creating, Kirra-lea shares her expertise through workshops across Australia, New Zealand, and England, teaching the ancient art of sand casting to both novices and fellow jewellers. Working from her home studio, she integrates elements like twigs, shells, and bones into her designs, reflecting the natural beauty of her surroundings.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KLCjewellery
Website: www.kirraleajewellery.com
E-mail: kirraleajewellery@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kirraleajewellery

Kirra-lea works primarily with rough sapphires sourced from Queensland and Tasmania, favouring their raw beauty and individuality. Many of the stones she uses are ones she’s fossicked herself from the riverbeds of north-east Tasmania—treasures discovered on slow, meditative days in the bush. These locally found gems are cast directly into her sand cast pieces, giving each work a sense of place, memory, and deep connection to the land.