How the Jewellers Visibility Retreat Helped Vicky Grow Her Jewellery Business (podcast episode)
How can becoming more visible help grow your jewellery business? In this episode, Anna Campbell talks with Vicky Barclay of Silver Snail Jewellery about how the Jewellers Visibility Retreat supported her business journey. Vicky shares how discovering silver clay led to a new career path and how learning about photography, social media and marketing helped her move her business forward. It’s an inspiring conversation about creativity, confidence and building a jewellery business that works for you.
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In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Anna Campbell speaks with Vicky Barclay of Silver Snail Jewellery about her journey into jewellery making, discovering silver clay, and building a jewellery business that supports both her creativity and wellbeing.
Before jewellery came along, Vicky was working long hours in higher education, often working 60-hour weeks. Following a difficult period in her life, including the loss of her father and the pressures of work during Covid, she realised she needed to find something different. While looking for a creative outlet, she came across a silver clay course and decided to give it a try.
That first class completely changed things.
Vicky describes being amazed at what she was able to create in a single workshop and how quickly the process captured her imagination. Silver clay’s accessibility was a big part of what she loved about it. Because the material starts as a soft clay that can be shaped before being fired into solid silver, it allows beginners to achieve beautiful results quickly. For Vicky, that transformation from clay to precious metal felt almost magical.
What began as a hobby soon started to grow. After making more pieces than she could possibly wear herself, she began selling some of her jewellery to fund buying more silver. Craft fairs became an important early step in building her confidence, helping her understand what customers liked and allowing her to connect directly with people who appreciated handmade jewellery.
Over time, Silver Snail Jewellery evolved from a side project into something more serious. When Vicky’s job contract came to an end, she made the decision to focus on building her jewellery business full time. She speaks openly about the challenges of starting a business while managing depression, but also about the deep belief she has in her work and the importance of creating a career that supports her wellbeing.
As part of growing her skills and confidence, Vicky enrolled on the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay with Jewellers Academy. Although she had already been working with silver clay for a few years, she found the Diploma expanded her knowledge significantly and helped consolidate her skills. Just as importantly, it introduced her to a supportive community of jewellers learning together, sharing challenges and celebrating successes.
Teaching has since become a key part of Vicky’s business. She now runs workshops across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, helping beginners discover how accessible and enjoyable silver clay can be. Seeing people surprise themselves with what they can create in their first session is something she finds incredibly rewarding.
Vicky also shares her experience attending the Jewellers Visibility Retreat in Brighton. The retreat brings together jewellers who want to grow their businesses and feel more confident sharing their work. Through practical sessions on topics such as photography, social media, branding and email marketing, participants work directly on their businesses while connecting with other jewellers facing similar challenges.
One of Vicky’s biggest takeaways from the retreat was the importance of recognising your strengths and not trying to do everything yourself. Learning when to outsource tasks such as photography can free up time and energy to focus on the parts of the business you truly enjoy.
This is a great episode if you’re curious about silver clay, thinking about turning your jewellery making into a business, or looking for ways to become more visible with your work, Vicky’s story offers both encouragement and practical insight.
Listen to the full episode to hear more about her journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
Key moments
02:56: Vicky’s life before jewellery and the stressful university career that led her to seek a creative outlet
04:37: Discovering silver clay for the first time and the moment it clicked for her
07:04: What silver clay is and why it’s such an accessible medium for jewellery making
10:44: Realising silver clay was ‘her thing’ and beginning to explore jewellery making more seriously
13:35: How Silver Snail Jewellery started and building confidence through craft fairs
17:15: Deciding to leave her university job and focus on building her jewellery business
25:24: Why Vicky decided to enrol on the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay
28:19: What she learned from the Diploma and the value of learning within a supportive community
30:13: Vicky’s experience of the Jewellers Visibility Retreat and what she gained from it
37:19: The biggest lesson from the retreat: why jewellers don’t have to do everything themselves
the jeweller’s visibility retreat
The Jewellers Visibility Retreat is a two-day immersive experience designed to help jewellers grow their businesses by becoming more confident and visible with their work. Hosted at the Jewellers Academy studios in Brighton, the retreat brings together a small group of jewellers for practical workshops focused on the skills that help your work get seen. You will work on areas such as photography, branding, Instagram, email marketing and telling the story behind your jewellery, while also having time to implement what you learn with guidance from experienced mentors. It is a supportive, collaborative environment where you can step away from the day-to-day of running your business, connect with other jewellers and make real progress on the parts of your business that often feel the most challenging.
We have two dates available in 2026 - April and September.
about vicky
Silver Snail Jewellery was founded by Vicky Barclay as a creative way to slow down and reconnect with nature in a busy world. After discovering silver clay in 2022 while searching for a hobby to balance work and life, Vicky began creating jewellery inspired by the natural beauty of her garden and surroundings. Each piece is handcrafted using fine silver clay and recycled sterling silver findings wherever possible, then carefully fired and finished by Vicky, often incorporating lab grown or ethically sourced gemstones. Vicky successfully completed the Jewellers Academy Silver Clay Diploma and has taken part in the Jewellers Academy Visibility Retreat, continuing to develop her skills and creative practice. Alongside her own designs, she also enjoys collaborating with customers to create meaningful commission pieces. Vicky runs relaxed, hands on workshops where participants can design and make their own silver jewellery using silver clay, learning the process from shaping and texturing the clay to firing and finishing their unique piece. She lives in Derbyshire with her partner and their three cats, drawing daily inspiration from the natural landscape around her.
Links:
www.silversnailjewellery.co.uk
IG: @thesilversnail