Castro Smith

Castro Smith is an award-winning London Goldsmith and traditional hand engraver, with roots in painting and printmaking. His distinctive style, both illustrative and painterly, is evident in the intricate designs of his rings, which are often inspired by history, mythology, and the natural world—subjects that have always fascinated him.

Castro’s journey began with a traditional apprenticeship through the Goldsmiths’ Company, where he trained with the prestigious engraving firm RH Wilkins. Starting from the bottom, he honed his skills by learning to sharpen tools, clean the workshop, and master the arts of polishing, filing, and engraving. It took him three months just to learn the proper way to hold the tools, and today, in such a niche industry, he crafts his own tools—an essential skill for anyone who doesn’t inherit them.

In 2017, Castro was awarded the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust scholarship, allowing him to travel to Japan and study under renowned Japanese masters, including Hiroshi Suzuki. He spent months in the workshop of master metalworker Kenji Io, working alongside his son Koichi and daughter-in-law Mariko Sumioka, and also trained with Kashima Kazuo and National Living Treasure Mamoru Nakagawa. In Japan, he immersed himself in the art of Japanese metalworking, engraving, and patination.

Originally from the North East of England, Castro now resides and works in London, UK. After spending three years at the Sarabande Foundation, established by Alexander McQueen, he moved to his current studio in Holborn, Central London, in 2020.

Seal engraving, a technique dating back to ancient times, is a cornerstone of Castro’s work. Unlike traditional two-dimensional hand engraving, seal engraving is done in reverse and is much deeper, adding a third dimension that requires time and precision to achieve. Historically, signet rings bearing a family crest were used to stamp hot wax and seal important documents, with the Intaglio engraving serving as a signature that reproduced the image or crest in 3D relief in the wax.

Castro brings his expertise in engraving to contemporary jewellery design, blending European and Japanese techniques in a rich fusion of styles and processes. His unique aesthetic emerged early in his career, during a rushed project where a slip of the tool led to an innovative approach—engraving around the entire piece with seal engravings, a departure from tradition as these designs couldn't be stamped using the ring's sides. This accidental discovery became a hallmark of his style.

Castro’s creative process begins with intricate and bold sketches inspired by dreams, depicting a wide range of subjects such as animals, plants, birds, insects, hearts, bones, sailing ships, serpents, sea creatures, mythological beasts, Nordic wolves, ravens, Asian dragons, cranes, tigers, and medieval heraldry. These designs are then reverse-engraved by hand into the jewellery, combining the ancient art of seal engraving with contrasting colors, patinas, or precious stones.

Each piece tells a unique story, deeply carved into the metal, preserving its timeless artistry for generations to come. These miniature carvings invite the wearer to explore and share the narrative behind each exquisitely crafted work of art.

The technique he uses, 'seal engraving' goes back to ancient times. A seal is always engraved in reverse and is much deeper than traditional two-dimensional hand engraving with a third or fourth dimension added which is deeper and finer and takes much more time to achieve.