Nicola Jane Murphy – portfolio

Contact the artist

07801 295319
nicola.jane.handmade@gmail.com

Exhibition information

I create handcrafted jewellery using recycled silver, with the addition of bronze and brass. I incorporate semi-precious stones, fossils, and glass to add colour, texture, and individuality to my designs.

My inspiration comes from my surroundings, the shapes, colours, and textures I encounter each day during outdoor walks in the changing landscape that surrounds us.

My aim is to make jewellery that feels meaningful and sparks a memory for the wearer.

Oxfordshire Artweeks Exhibition 2026

Stories of arrival and belonging.

The sea is constantly in motion, it connects lands, carries people across distances. The journey of the migrating shells, pearls and driftwood mirror human stories of migration, adaptation, arrival and finding belonging in new environments. I am exploring how the organic forms of different marine ecosystems, coral, shells, seaweed evolve through their journey.

 Findings home, not in a fixed place but in our ability to flow, connect and adapt.

My collection captures the fluid lines and textured surfaces being shaped by time, by water, by passage. A small piece of movement, memory, a symbol of how belonging can be both personal, shared, fragile and enduring.

Artist information

Hello and welcome.

I am the maker behind each piece of jewellery you will find here.

My name is Nicola, I have lived in Oxford since birth, and I feel incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful city. I share my home with my wonderful little dog Charlie.

I have as long as I can remember been creative. I enjoy painting, drawing, knitting, needle felting, embroidery, and cross stitch. I find these crafts relaxing in the evening and a wonderful way to switch off from everyday life and become totally absorbed with what I am creating. Nothing quite like the excitement of melting metal and creating something beautiful, which is why I fell in love with Silversmithing. I find the entire process fascinating and enjoy learning new techniques.

Much of my inspiration comes from my outdoor adventures with Charlie. The textures, shapes, and patterns found in the landscape spark new ideas and influence my designs.