Biography

Ronald “hilloma” Hill

Ronald was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1938. He moved with his family to California in 1942, where they settled in the foothills of the San Fernando Valley. Living in a western state gave Ron his first exposure to the beauty and diversity of nature’s elements as he explored sage covered foothills, mountains and lakes, beaches and ocean fronts, high desert and burning sands, giant trees, and grand canyons. Ron’s exploration of Western environments continues today.

Ron entered the landscape industry in 1970 as a technical specifications representative. His thirty-four years with this

industry found him working closely with civil engineers and landscape architects. His interest in organic structures and his love of painting and drawing served him well in his career. He was able to hone his design and drawing skills by creating product illustrations and designs for industry promotional materials. During his career Ron was awarded two U.S. Patents for innovative landscape products.  The precise, detailed drawings in the book you hold are a testament to those long years of practice. Ron retired from the landscape industry in 2004.

Ever the artist, designer, inventor, and collector, Ron’s wide-ranging interests support his artistic endeavors. He became interested in fossils, and stones with natural pictures in them, early in his life. Through the years, he has collected numerous rare and beautiful fossil and stone samples. His collection today reflects his love of the intrinsic beauty in natural structures that began with his exploration of the western lands. Little did Ron realize, however, that an encounter with a neighbor would lead to his second career as a wire wrap jewelry designer and instructor! His good neighbor, Lee Wenrick, taught Ron some basic wire wrapping techniques in 1997. This knowledge became a doorway that eventually led him into this beautiful, intriguing art form, into his future as an artist, inventor, and designer for wire wrap jewelry.

Ron’s first invention in the art form was the “hilloma Crown,” his signature wrap style. This style is unique to his jewelry creations and is used variously to enhance special pieces. The blending of gold and silver wires with myriad stones and gems beautifully illustrates this style, as well as Ron’s inventiveness. About his art, Ron says, “I have a sense that when all has vanished into antiquity, the stones in my collection will somehow survive and reemerge in the future, maybe in someone else’s private collection. And so it is with this art form and the pieces I create; wire wrap creations will last for generations to come.”

Ron lives the retired lifestyle in Hemet, California, with his best friend and wife of twenty-five years, Linda Russell Hill, and their canine companion, Obi Wan.  Ron continues to create and market beautiful, one-of-a kind wire art pieces and teach classes in this art. He encourages his students to release the artist within, and pursue their dreams and aspirations in this most rewarding art form from antiquity, Wire Wrap Artistry.                                         rev0906