By Cherisse Moe, HER Magazine
Cimone Selvon le Maitre didn’t always see herself as an artist and jewelry designer. Architecture was her first love. But looking back on her life as the owner of Cimone Marie Metal and Art, an online store showcasing her unique sterling silver, gold, and beaded jewelry, art prints, T-shirts, and bags, the London-based creative has no regrets.
A certified silversmith, she was captivated by the transformative power of metal. She became obsessed with how a flat piece of metal, seemingly rigid and unyielding, could be manipulated through hammering and heating to create something entirely new and beautiful, she says.
Fascinated, she left her corporate job to pursue a full-time degree in Silversmithing and Jewelry at the School of Art, Architecture & Design in London.
Her journey into the world of jewelry making began in 2005. While on maternity leave, Selvon le Maitre, always creative and crafty, stumbled upon a newly opened art and craft shop on Portobello Road in West London during one of her daily walks to the market.
“I was bored with the routine of life and ready to try anything to keep myself occupied,” she explains. Inspired by the shop’s offerings, she decided to create unique jewelry for her friends and family. As she gathered materials, ideas began to swirl in her mind, igniting her passion for the art. “I fell in love with it and never looked back.”
Selvon le Maitre’s designs are one-of-a-kind…with a few exceptions for simpler designs like stacking rings and bangles. She also offers a bespoke design service, allowing clients to collaborate with her to bring their ideas to life.
“Most of my pieces lean toward the more feminine side but I always say that they are unisex because anyone can make a piece match their style,” adds the 46-year-old.
Creativity flows through Selvon le Maitre’s entire being. She is also a self-taught artist who specialises in acrylic painting, her preferred surface being canvas. As a child, she remembers doodling and sketching on any piece of paper or material available.
“When I paint, it soothes my soul and offers a kind of therapy and escape from the world,” she shares. “Even if only momentarily.” Her paintings often draw inspiration from her childhood in Maracas Valley, capturing the essence of the people and places she grew up with. “They aren’t literal representations, but interpretations of memories, smiles, movements, and emotions related to it,” she explains.
Growing up in a very close-knit family as the youngest of six, Selvon le Maitre looked up to her siblings, especially her sister Camille Selvon Abrahams, who was also into art but later pursued a career in the field of animation. She was free spirited and she admired her intense passion for life. “My sister’s art was always present in the house, on the walls,” she tells Her.
“The batik and screen prints cluttered up the rooms or stacked up outside. This was fascinating to me as a child to see the process of creating something from scratch, I still remember the smell of the batik wax and the dyes.”
Finding her way in a big city as a Caribbean migrant has been both challenging and rewarding for this creative. She originally moved to London in 1998 at the age of 19. She spent two years in the city working as an administrative professional before returning to Trinidad in 2000. Then in 2002, she was back in London where she made it her home after meeting her now ex-husband. They were married for 18 years.
Reflecting on her early days in London, she shares, “It was wild! I was a very impulsive young woman. I was in a different country away from my parents and for the first time I was making ‘big people money’, so I thoroughly enjoyed this period of my life. Luckily, my sister was settled in the UK and this helped me settle in a lot faster and made it easier getting jobs.”
Today, Selvon le Maitre embraces her role as a single mother to her two teenage children. She shares a healthy co-parenting relationship with her ex-husband, who she describes as a “very supportive and involved parent””
Currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration at the University of East London, she believes she has many more bright days ahead. “Having grown children allows me to pursue these goals now. I personally don’t believe that you are ever too old to learn something new or to complete something on your bucket list.”
In the near future, Selvon le Maitre hopes to give back to her roots through her father’s Bartholomew Selvon Foundation. “My dad, who was my first and forever inspiration, was a staunch community activist and advocate for uplifting underserved communities in Trinidad and Tobago. When he passed in 2018, his children wanted to continue his legacy of serving his community and expanding into other areas. Currently the foundation has two homework centres that serve La Seiva Village and Maracas Valley. Along with community partners, it offers free after school activities to youth and children involved in the arts, sport and academics.
“My dream is to eventually move back to Trinidad and Tobago when my youngest is an adult. I would like to teach survivors of domestic violence practical skills like jewelry making to become financially independent.”
