Sheila Fleet Jewellery

Tankerness Shop

From her Country Workshop in the Old Schoolhouse, tucked away behind St Andrew's Church in the village of Tankerness, Sheila Fleet designs and produces a range of sophisticated gold and silver jewellery. Her collections reflect times past and present, and capture the essence of Orkney. She draws inspiration from the landscape and the history that has shaped it.

The Mine Howe Collection Making the Jewellery Enamelling Workshop

An Orcadian, Sheila worked for 26 years as a designer in the jewellery trade before returning to her roots to set up Sheila Fleet Jewellery in 1993. With numerous design awards to her credit, she has since created a series of unique collections reflecting sea, sky and landscape. Items are available to buy direct from her Country Workshop in Tankerness, her Gallery in the centre of Kirkwall, from selected retail outlets nationwide and via mail order from her website.

Examples of her work include the Sands of Time collection, whose design reflects the eternal motion and erosion by the ocean waves. Items in this range are available plain, in silver and gold, or embellished with rich, colourful enamels.

The Runic Iris Collection

Kirkwall Gallery, Bridge Street

Shop Interior

The Skyran, collection, was inspired by the first known text discovered in Orkney. The Ogham writing which appears on a range of items, some set with diamonds and others enamelled, reads 'a blessing on the soul'. The original whorl stone which inspired its design is held in the Orkney Museum on Broad Street in Kirkwall. It dates from 500AD and was found at Buckquoy, Birsay.

The Runic Iris suite is decorated with runic writing, examples of which can be seen in the the stone age tomb at Maes Howe. Built around 3000BC, the tomb was re-opened by Vikings in the 12th Century who left their mark, literally, with runic graffiti. Sheila has incorporated romantic messages on a range including rings, bangles and brooches.

Mine Howe, named after a more recent archaeological discovery, has also inspired a collection. The striking, yet simple, design is taken from a button excavated from an iron age chamber located less than a mile from Sheila's Tankerness workshop.

A special feature of Sheila Fleet Jewellery is the opportunity to visit the workshop, browse the displays, view the extensive catalogue, make your selection and have items hand crafted while you wait. Wedding rings can be made to measure as you watch the whole process from workbench to presentation box. The Country Workshop is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm daily.

At the Kirkwall Gallery in Bridge Street you can view the Sheila Fleet jewellery collections, including an extensive range of items in silver, 9ct and 18ct gold and platinum plus an exclusive range of diamond-set engagement rings.

An upper floor exhibition area displays the work of other local craftspeople and includes Orkney designer knitwear and a selection of Rick Fleet's exciting Orkney sunset photographs. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9.00am to 5.00pm and summer Sundays from 10.00am to 4.30pm.