Nicola Briggs Moments of Calm II

This body of work features a collection of semi-abstract landscape paintings alongside hand-built porcelain ceramics. The pieces draw their inspiration from the striking silhouettes of windswept hawthorn trees in winter, set against the dramatic backdrop of ever-changing skies. I’m interested in capturing the interplay of light and shifting weather, reflecting the wild and untamed nature of these landscapes. The collection seeks to evoke a sense of tranquillity, offering viewers a moment of stillness and calm amidst the rugged beauty of nature.

Nicola Briggs is a Manchester-based artist and ceramicist whose work is deeply rooted in a personal connection to nature. After earning a BA(Hons) in Design: Ceramics Arts from Staffordshire University in 1998, she established her first studio with support from The Prince’s Trust. Following a break to raise her family, she returned to making in 2016, creating a garden ceramics studio and in 2022, a painting studio in a historic mill. Her acrylic landscape paintings are layered with washes, drips, and expressive marks that reflect nature’s raw beauty, inviting a sense of stillness and emotional connection.