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 landscapes 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 and 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 evolve through their journey. They, like us, are able to find belonging, not necessarily in a fixed place but in what connects them to the changing tides.

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

Artist information

Hello, my name is Nicola and I am the maker behind each piece of handcrafted jewellery.  I have lived in Oxford my whole life, and I feel incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful city. I spend a lot of time outdoors walking in woodlands and by our rivers, I love that the city is connected by water creating many scenic walks to enjoy. I share my home with my wonderful little dog Charlie who also loves the water.

I have as long as I can remember been creative. I enjoy painting, drawing, knitting, needle felting, embroidery, and cross stitch. I find that making is relaxing and a wonderful way to become totally absorbed with what I am creating. I began Silversmithing in 2023. After a prolonged illness I decided that a change of direction was needed in my life, so I followed my heart, after falling in love with the process of Silversmithing at a ring making workshop. I love that the metal is heated, pushed, moulded into a complete new object. Different textures can be added making it tactile which brings comfort. Nothing quite like the excitement of melting metal and creating something beautiful. I find the entire process fascinating and enjoy learning new techniques.

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.  I often come home with a pocket full of pebbles, leaves, berries, and shells to add ideas into my sketch book. Walking along a beach collecting shells, sea glass and driftwood is my perfect day out.