Master goldsmith Charles Lewton-Brain has trained, studied and worked in Germany, Canada and the United States to learn the skills he uses. His work is concerned with process and with beauty as well as function. He thinks of decision making in metal as drawing, working with the same sensibilities of mark and commitment as with pen and ink. Many pieces use a ‘printmaking’ approach to working metal, that is that the work is done in separate steps in groups and layers building towards the finished piece. Process and the tensions between nature and structure are part of his concerns. His work and writing on the results of his technical research, have been published internationally. In 1994 Brain Press was established which documents, publishes and markets the results of his research activities. His most recent publications include two major books in 2008, Foldforming with Brynmorgen Press, and The Jeweler’s Bench Book with MJSA Press.
A distinguished Fellow of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, he has lectured and taught in England, Germany, the United States, Canada and Australia. He is a consultant on the jewelry field, and has written expert witness reports regarding health and safety in US legal cases.