Jacqueline Morren

Jacqueline Morren was born in The Netherlands and after extensive travels ‘ended up’ in New Zealand (21 years ago) where she became acquainted with its precious stone Pounamu. 
During her first visit she attended a night class in Jade Carving whilst teaching fulltime at the Tai Poutini Polytechnic. When her year visa had ran out she travelled some more and after returning to The Netherlands she was overcome by a very strong pull to take up working again with the amazing greenstone. She returned as an international student and earned a Diploma in Jade and Hard Stone Carving in 2003. That year she won the Sculpture Award  during the 10th New Zealand Pounamu and Jade Exhibition @ Left Bank Art Gallery, Greymouth.
She always was on the lookout for a silversmith to start a succesfull collaboration and combine her Jade with Silver; this to no avail. In 2009 she began tentatively teaching the silversmithing craft on her own, at that point without the aid of internet or YouTube. 
Jacqueline strives to be as ethical as possible in her studio, harsh chemicals are replaced with old traditional and natural products and the materials are joined without the use of glue.
Jacqueline works full time from her studio, and participates in several exhibitions yearly,and is employed part time and teaches various courses and workshops in Christchurch.