What Highland Wings Means

It was the original mind, talented hands, and open, teaching spirit of my grandfather, Paul Barker, that first instilled in me the love for metals and minerals that I have today.

His passion for the art inspired me to pursue my associate’s degree in jewelry at TIJT. The technical precision I learned there laid the foundation for my apprenticeship with a true master in John Kokkinos, or as I call him, dáskalos — the Greek word for ‘teacher’.

My goal has always been to create pieces of jewelry that tell a story. I believe that jewelry is personal — it should say something about who you are, and open up avenues of communication that bring people together.

Ultimately, the purpose of this site is not only to provide a place to offer my own designs, but also those of other artists whose work I admire. I want to bring all of the things I’m passionate about together in one place, and give you a unique shopping experience. My hope is that you’ll find here a selection of items that intrigue you, speak to you, and launch your imagination in flight.

So what does Highland Wings mean? To me, it means celebrating where you come from, as well as where you aspire to be. It means honoring the people who shared their knowledge and time with you. It means working hard, and knowing there is always more to learn. It means creating something with love.

The inspirations at the core of who I am are family and faith. I have an amazing wife and son, and a whole bunch of other people in my life who encourage and support me every day. These are what inspire me. These are my catalyst!  I hope what I do brings you joy.

God bless.

-Gregory McCloud