Originally from Columbia, Ernesto has been making jewellery for over 25 years, initially learning his craft from his family of jeweller/watchmakers, before developing his skills studying art at Bogota University. Arriving in New Zealand in 1990 Ernesto has made a strong connection with the local landscape and pounamu. He studied stone carving at Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Greymouth, in 2010. Ernesto lives and works in Auckland.