Nicola Bottono

I am a jewellery artist and silversmith based in Cornwall. I completed my BA (Hons) in Silversmithing and Jewellery in 2012 under Plymouth University.

Fascinated by the diversity of the Cornish landscape, I am constantly inspired by the coastline, sacred sites, flora and fauna of my home county. Silver is an incredibly versatile metal which allows me to transform sheet and wire into forms which express my thoughts and impressions through the creative process. I also use Mokume Gane, (a combination of copper and silver) as decorative elements in selected work. Mokume Gane (‘wood grain’) is created using an ancient Japanese technique of bonding different alloys in layers and processing the metal until a sheet is formed that contains contrasting patterns.  I have a primary interest in the functional form. The fabrication of mechanisms such as hinges and lids allows jewellery to become containers that can be personalised by the wearer.