“Art and fashion have been around me from a young age. Any chance I had I found myself drawing, creating or banging on the drums”

Feeling the heat of the hustle and bustle I felt it was time for a change. I packed up my life in Sydney and ventured on a trip through the Indonesian islands.

It was overwhelming and surreal arriving in a foreign land, learning a new language and figuring out a different culture. I found it a refreshing change to the grinding, day to day, lifestyle of a city.

I spent some time in South Sumatra with its pristine blue seas, coral reefs and beautiful bays.  I loved going for walks and exploring. The beaches were my favourite, thats where I noticed all the sea washed glass. I found it intriguing and remember thinking how beautiful it was so I started playing with it in my mind. Thats when it all began.

I returned home to Bondi two months later full of motivation and creative ambitions but couldn’t settle back into city life.

On a whim and a tight budget, packed with some crazy ideas and beautiful dreams, I headed up to Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers of NSW.

Settling in Lennox Head, life took control from there. I landed a creative gig making jewellery with Liz, Spelly and the beautiful girls in Byron Bay. My dream job had been handed to me. It felt surreal, like it was meant to be.

After many moons with life long friendships formed and experiences I’d never change it was time to grow again. I parted ways with my north coast lifestyle and decided to move back to Bondi to do things my way.

So here I find myself with a studio in Tamarama beach creating pieces I love inspired by the world.

Val was my amazing grandmother who had a massive impact on my life, so the name came to me as naturally as the passion to make jewellery.

Who would have thought those walks on the beach, collecting glass in Sumatra was the start of VAL&STONE….

Renee Howarth