Our Team

Tammy Keers Kathy McLay and the Artisans Bespoke Jewellers Team

TAMMY KEERS
Award Winning Jewellery Designer & Jeweller

Bachelor of Jewellery Design
Trade Jeweller
Over 15 years owning & operating Artisans Bespoke Jewellers
Jewellers Association of Australia JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards – 2023 Jeweller of the Year
Jewellers Association of Australia JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards – 2023 Diamond Category Winner

Tammy Keers is the founder of Artisans Bespoke Jewellers, a Manufacturing Jeweller and qualified Jewellery Designer renowned for her distinctively modern take on Art Deco Jewellery Design.

A childhood love of drawing and making things developed into an interest in Graphic Design at High School. Tammy’s Art Teacher recognised her talent, guiding Tammy through the process of admission into a Bachelor of Design at the University of South Australia, majoring in Jewellery and Metalsmithing. It was during her Four Year Degree where Tammy sparkled, – she had found her true calling! The girl who struggled through High School Science and Maths found herself calculating the Specific Gravity of precious metal and gemstones!

In graduating University, Tammy yearned to make practical use of her Design Degree. In a male dominated industry Tammy secured a coveted Jewellery Apprenticeship with a Master Jeweller in Adelaide, South Australia. As one of only two Women at Trade School, Tammy won the award for Best 2nd Year Apprentice, Most Outstanding 3rd Year Apprentice and 1st Place at the Workskill Awards.

At the age of 24, Tammy completed her Apprenticeship and moved to Brisbane where she worked for 3 years as a Trade Jeweller. With a keen interest in the Jewellery Business Tammy also worked in Jewellery Sales, eventually taking the plunge and setting up her own bench.

Setting up her bench to work was the easy part. Never one to shy way from hard work, Tammy instilled her own unique work ethic. Years of working multiple jobs, long hours on her feet in Supermarket and Café Environments to put herself through University prepared her for the ups and downs of working for herself. Over the next four years, Tammy did repairs and makes for other Jewellers – dreaming of the style of Jewellery she wanted to bring to the market. Noticing how masculine so many pieces were at the time, Tammy was passionate about a particular style of jewellery she knew women craved.

Tammy opened her first shop on Latrobe Terrace in 2006. Tiny in size at 3×3 metres, Tammys bright and bubbly personality combined with her impeccable design and manufacturing skills became a well respected and enduring part of the Paddington Community.

Tammy’s first employee, her beautiful Border Collie “Missy” was right by her side coming to work in the Shop every day. An icon of Artisans, Missy worked for many years with Tammy, building their amazing business together. Sadly one day the irreplaceable Missy needed to rest and went to visit the rainbow bridge, forever loved by the Team at Artisans and always remembered. Her beautiful photo sits pride of place in the Artisans Bespoke Jewellers Showroom.

Now in her third shop on the famous Latrobe Terrace, Paddington shopping precinct, Tammy is an undisputed example of a Business Owner staying in her lane. Tammy chose a style she was passionate about, the Art Deco Style with the Tammy touch! This became the signature Artisans Bespoke Jewellers look, so much so a phrase was coined, “Is that a Tammy Ring?”

Tammy’s passion for creativity is not only her Superpower, but a continuation of a personal goal. “Nurturing our future Jewellers, ensuring they are trained correctly to make Jewellery that is unique and different, not the same as what everybody else is doing. I love to work with young people, to listen to their ideas and mentor them to be the best Jewellers they can be. An Apprenticeship covering all aspects of Jewellery Manufacturing, not just repairs and polishing should be the Industry Standard” said Tammy.

Fun Fact: Tammy wanted to be a professional Tennis athlete.

ALEX
Setter & Jeweller

With over 30 years experience as a diamond setter, we are extremely proud to have a setter on site in our team here at Artisans and Alex’s wealth of experience is invaluable to the team. Alex is a champion in achieving the best results for your jewellery make job.

Fun Fact: In his free time, Alex enjoys making a home brew.

KATHY
Jeweller

Kathy is a crazy talented craftswoman and has been in the jewellery trade for over 25 years. She has made jewellery for her own business as well as for numerous others in the trade. She is also a sculptor, and specialises in life-sized bronze sculptures.

Jewellers Association of Australia: JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards – 2023 Jeweller of the Year
Jewellers Association of Australia JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards – 2023 Diamond Category Winner

Fun Fact: Kathy aspires to be a zombie in a zombie movie.

BRIAN
Jeweller, Gemologist, Diamond Grader FGAA Dip DT Bgb

With over 30 years experience, Brian is lovingly called the ‘brainiac’ of the team. He has taught jewellery students at QLD TAFE, has a Diploma in Diamond Technology, is a Gemologist and a member of the Gemological Association of Australia. Brian is the teacher for all of our MYO Wedding Band Workshops.

Fun Fact: Brian loves his wife and kids and looks forward to retirement.

INGRID
Designer Jeweller & Sales

Ingrid found her love for the jewellery industry at just 16 years of age. She is a qualified jeweller and she brings a wealth of knowledge to our clients who are looking for something special in their design.

Fun Fact: She has 3 gorgeous kids.

OLIVIA
Marketing Manager

Although she isn’t a jeweller by trade, Olivia has worked in the jewellery industry for 10+ years specialising in sales, marketing, graphic design and photography.

Fun Fact: Olivia’s art has exhibited at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.

LOUIS
Jeweller/Setter

Louis has a natural talent for crafting and setting jewellery by hand. We look forward to seeing his jewellery-making journey progress.

Jewellers Association of Australia: JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards – 2023 Finalist in the Debutting Category for ‘Ode to Olivia’
World Skills (Brisbane Region) – 2024 Gold Medal

Fun Fact: Prior to becoming a Jeweller, Louis was an Electrician.

JASMIN
Apprentice Jeweller/Jewellery Designer

Jasmin is Artisans’ youngest and newest team member. She is our Apprentice Jeweller and Jewellery Designer in training who is naturally talented in drawing.

Fun Fact: Jasmin owns a pair of Cockatiels called Chibi and Yuzu and enjoys bird watching in her free time.

MISSY
RIP 07.08.2019

“Whoever said that Diamonds are a girl’s best friend…never owned a dog”
Missy came to work with Tammy for over 14 years. We will never forget her.

Fun Fact: Her tummy was a bottomless pit!

“…We just want to say a HUGE Thank you to you all. Right from the very beginning of this very special journey, you have all been so amazing! We love the warmth & love that you gave, not only us but friends and family who joined us along the way and also the incredible skills you showed by hand crafting our amazing rings. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

~ Jules & Sally

“Sending a huge thank you to Tammy and Hazel for creating my magnificent masterpiece!! Excellent work, and customer service thank you again.”

~ Toni M.

“Amazing service and excellent craftsmanship. I trust Tammy and the team and will keep going back again and again.”

~ Gordon T.

“Tammy is a genius. I am a very lucky lady to have one of her masterpieces on my finger.”

~ Jasmine D.

“Just a short note to say thank you so much for doing such an amazing job on my ring. I did not imagine I would love it as much as I do! It was such a pleasure to work with you.”

~ Susan W.

“I just wanted to tell you how much I still love the beautiful cognac diamond ring you made for me a few years ago. So many people continue to admire it and comment on how lovely and well made it is.”

~ Linda W.

“Thank you so much for crafting my beautiful ring with Guy. I truly love it!”

~ Kate B.

“Simone hasn’t stopped looking at it since she said YES! Thank you both so much for all your help, we will come in and say hello when we get back.”

~ Joel H.

“Thank you for being so great. Our rings are just so beautiful and all the more better for having met such lovely people so good and passionate – we will always remember how easy and fun it was working with you during such a special time in our lives. I hope it’s an enduring relationship that lasts through opals, pearls, diamonds, emeralds, morganite and more spectacular sapphires!! Again, THANK YOU!”

~ Sally & Simon

“Dear Tammy and staff I just want to thank you for my beautiful ring . It’s absolutely perfect.”

~ Linda M.

“Farid surprised me on Friday night and asked me to marry him with the most beautiful ring made by you tammy! It was wonderful and the ring is AMAZING! Thank you so very very much!”

~ Krysia.

“I wanted to say a big thanks for working with Pete to turn his plaster creation and drawings into my engagement ring. I love it!”

~ Sarah S.

“I feel so lucky I found you and you gave me such a beautiful ring to look at every day.”

~ Tamara H.

“Terrific Service, love every detail and time they take to make timeless jewellery here. Well done guys!”

~ Carl D.

“The most amazing team- if you are wanting something unique – this is the place for you. Stunning designs – personalised helpful advice – I love my ring and gets much admired!”

~ Sylvia O.

“Beautiful hand made, quality jeweller. Friendly staff.”

~ Asher W.

“Amazing service and excellent craftsmanship. I trust Tammy and the team and will keep going back again and again.”

~ Gordon T.

“I’m officially ENGAGED!!! Thank you both so so much you have given me a beautiful piece of jewellery that I’m so proud to wear.”

~ Hannah M.

“Wonderful personalised service and gorgeous work. Genuinely artisanal jewellery design at prices much lower than big name jewellers.”

~ Ali-Breeze K.

“If you’re looking for the best of service and an amazing ring then look no further!! This jewellery shop is by far the best in Brisbane (trust me I’ve been to every one) From the moment I met the staff at Artisans I knew I had the right place. They were so outgoing, generous and more importantly there was no pressure sales like you find in most high street jewellers! I tried everywhere to find my girlfriend her special diamond but nothing stood out from all the other rings.. I ended up getting scared and proposing with a surprise but “cheap” ring and took her that morning to artisans. Tammy was amazing! She was so excited and made the whole experience for me and my new fiancé amazing. My fiancé picked the ring of her dreams but it didn’t fit. No worries though, Tammy called up another member of the team to resize the ring and it was delivered to the city and on her finger by 3 that afternoon! We continued to celebrate our engagement that couldn’t have went smoother. All because of Artisans. Thanks again”

~ Iain W.

“My fiance and I had the most incredible experience designing and having my engagement ring made by Tammy and her team at Artisans Bespoke Jewellers! I couldn’t recommend them more highly to anyone looking for a personalised and WOW experience where you can design something truly spectacular and see it come to life with an incredible quality finished product!”

~ Sophie H.

Our Team