Nicola Briggs Small Tall Silhouette Bottle Vase with Winter Trees

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. 

Nicolas ceramic work embraces the Japanese Wabi-Sabi aesthetic—finding beauty in imperfection. Each porcelain vessel is shaped by hand, textured with relief details, and layered with glazes that echo the earth’s organic patterns. Every piece is an intimate reflection of the landscapes she loves, designed to bring a sense of tranquility into the home.

Nicola’s work is exhibited in UK galleries, and she welcomes commissions for bespoke pieces that carry the same emotional depth and connection to nature.