About the Artist

Nicola Briggs in her studio with ceramics and landscape paintings

About Nicola Briggs

Ceramicist & Landscape Artist — Manchester, UK

Nicola Briggs at Buttermere, Lake District - inspiration for her landscape paintings

The Artist

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 the historic Spinners Mill, Leigh.

For Nicola, art is a sanctuary — a way to quiet a busy mind and find peace in the wild landscapes that inspire her. Long walks through ever-changing scenery fuel her creativity, allowing her to capture fleeting moments of light, movement, and atmosphere.

The Work

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.

Her ceramic work mirrors this philosophy, embracing 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 galleries across the UK — including Old Courthouse Gallery (Ambleside), The Pole Star Gallery (Keswick), Brightwater Gallery (Alnwick), Number Four Gallery (St Abbs), and The Nextdoor Gallery (West Didsbury) — and is listed in the Crafts Council Directory. She welcomes commissions for bespoke pieces that carry the same emotional depth and connection to nature. All ceramic work is designed and made by Nicola in her two studios in Manchester. You can also follow her exhibitions and events throughout the year.

Credentials & Recognition

Education

BA(Hons) Design: Ceramics Arts
Staffordshire University, 1998

Press

Featured in House & Garden magazine

Studio

Spinners Mill, Leigh
Manchester, UK
Appointments only

Interested in commissioning a bespoke piece, or sourcing work for an interior project?

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