Spotlight: Rowena Gilpin – Bespoke Mosaic Mirrors

When it comes to creativity, Rowena Gilpin is a firm believer that art should be both beautiful to look at and visually interesting. Her creative collections boast original, handcrafted mirrors and décor made with semi-precious stones and crystals. She has a range of ready to purchase items, but also takes on commissions for completely bespoke pieces.

Left: Agate and Right: Sodalite

“I have been painting, sculpting and creating ever since I can remember,” explains Rowena. “I just love colour and texture.” While holding down a full-time career in supply chain in the FMCG industry, Rowena’s spare time was devoted to creating something, from paintings to sculpture to mosaic pieces. While decorating her new home she also found that there was limited availability of unique, South African, functional art. “Much of what is sold in décor shops is imported and items are similar from shop to shop. Being good with my hands, I started to create some pieces with materials not commonly used before.”

Rowena started with amethyst tumbled stones and coins. The result was a bespoke mirror, surrounded with beautiful stones that turns a functional piece of homeware into something striking and attractive, merging art and function. “Sharing my creations on Facebook I managed to sell the first mirror within hours of posting. Inspired by the positive reaction I set about sourcing various stones and crystals and designing new mirrors and décor pieces.”

SA Coin Fox

Within just a couple of months, Rowena has created five very different mirrors as well as two foxes, mosaiced using South African coins. She presently works from a small home studio but she hopes to see her idea take off and grow into a successful business, allowing her to employ fellow creative South Africans who can then also create their own unique pieces with their own flavour. I have found that my work experience in supply chain has equipped me well with the necessary skills to kick off this exciting venture. “I have found that my work experience in supply chain has equipped me well with the necessary skills to kick off this exciting venture.”

Rowena chooses semi-precious stones instead of customary ceramic tiles because she was attracted to their colours but also because each stone has unique characteristics. Some of these stones take thousands of years to form which means that you could have a piece of geological history adorning your walls. “I also chose them because it gives that luxurious, exclusive or prestigious feel to a piece. They also make a great medium for working with texture and contour, over and above colour and composition.”