Bringing Turner’s Colours to Life: Artist Palette Jewellery by The Mountain and Me
The Mountain and Me is thrilled to present a special collection of artist palette jewellery, comissioned to coincide with the Whitworth Art Gallery’s Turner – Light and Shade exhibition. Each piece celebrates Turner’s extraordinary use of light, shade, and colour, reimagined in hand-painted, sustainable jewellery.
Every palette begins as a drawing in Procreate, and then laser cut from FSC-certified bamboo. What makes this collection truly special is the mixing of hues: Claire Mills, the maker behind The Mountain and Me, meticulously mixes each paint to match Turner’s original colours. Her unique ability to blend and match pigments perfectly ensures that each palette is one-of-a-kind, reflecting subtle variations and the richness of Turner’s tones. 
Each piece is carefully hand-painted in Claire’s home studio using high-pigment, non-toxic paints, then finished with water-based varnish for longevity. This attention to detail means that no two palettes are exactly alike — every brooch and earring becomes a miniature artwork, a wearable homage to Turner’s mastery of colour. The jewellery is lightweight, eco-friendly, and comes in sustainable packaging, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to environmentally conscious design.
The collection includes brooches and earrings and pendant necklaces that capture the essence of Turner’s palette while offering a contemporary, wearable twist on classic art. This project also highlights the versatility of The Mountain and Me — a brand celebrated for its nature-inspired and bird jewellery — showing that the same attention to colour, detail, and sustainability brings every design to life.
Claire has a personal connection to the Whitworth: she grew up in Fallowfield, visiting the gallery as a child, and it is especially meaningful to see her work exhibited there. She now lives in the Rossendale countryside, running a smallholding alongside Herd and Elder, while continuing to create sustainable, hand-painted jewellery that celebrates both nature and art.
Visitors to the Whitworth Turner Exhibition can see the palettes in their shop alongside Turner’s original works, creating a dialogue between classical painting and contemporary craft. Claire says, “Mixing and matching these colours was such a joy. Each palette is unique, and it allowed me to explore colour in a way I never usually do while staying true to my passion for sustainable jewellery.
The Mountain and Me is proud to collaborate with the Whitworth Art Gallery, and you can view/purchase the full collection either at the gallery or on their online shop. The Turner exhibition will be on display from 7 February - 2 November 2025.