Charles Lewton-Brain studied and worked in Europe and North America. He lectures and publishes in a number of countries on his research into rapid methods of manipulating metal and it's surface for artistic and manufacturing reasons. He has taught at the Alberta College of Art and Design since 1986 as well as writing, exhibiting and working in his studio. He is known internationally for inventing Fold-Forming, an original system of working sheet metal using simple tools that is a new way of working metal. He and his partner Dee Fontans opened The Lewton-Brain/Fontans Centre for Jewellery Studies in 1991 in Calgary where they teach jewellery making, exhibit innovative work from elsewhere in Canada and offer information on contemporary art jewellery. In 1994 he founded Brain Press to publish 'Cheap Thrills in the Tool Shop', a book of inexpensive tool options and bench tricks for goldsmiths. Other books include 'Small Scale Photography' and 'Hinges and Hinge-Based Catches for Jewellers and Goldsmiths'. 1996 brought the collaboration with Dr. E. Aspler and The Ganoksin Project.

Over 500 pages of his writing on jewelry techniques can be found at Tips from the jeweler's bench section of this site