Those not familiar with Nick’s work will be amazed by the detail and intricacy of his unique designs; a figurative collection of oxidized silver pieces and charms bearing words and messages.
Many pieces have moving parts and small doors that open to reveal fine gold detail. Nick’s jewellery has become extremely collectable and can be easily identified as the original article by a small engraving of a ‘brick and bean’ on each piece of jewellery; a play on words of Nick and his wife’s name ‘Nick and Jean’.
In 1976 Nick proposed to Jean and after saying that she was ‘quite fond of him’ they were married. Two years later Nick and Jean set up their own business and Nick began his workshop from a small room in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter. Nick spent many years making tiny, moving and opening models and charms for the jewellery trade.
Nick and Jean had two daughters, Philippa and Elizabeth, in the late seventies and early eighties and Nick set up a workshop at home so that he could spend more time with his family. He divided his time working from home and from his studio in the Jewellery Quarter.
Eventually continuing his love of miniaturization Nick went on to produce his first jewellery collection in 1996 and the miniature world of Nick Hubbard Jewellery began!
Sadly on Saturday the 17th of August 2013 Nick passed away suddenly but peacefully, in his sleep, beside his angel, his darling wife Jean.
Nick touched the lives of everyone he met; a tall man, a quiet man – a gentle man with a real interest in everything and everyone around him. He was a brick – solid and dependable, he was the very foundations of his loving family and as described by his daughters – ‘he was perfect’.
Nick loved his workshop and all that happened within its four walls, he was at his bench from early morning to early evening and when he was at home he could be found at his desk making cards for friends and family. Nick had a passion to create, to design and to make and he encouraged this in all of his team.
Nick left sketchbooks full of designs and ideas and the Brick and Bean team want the world to see them! Through these sketchbooks and through his family there is an insight into the magical world in which Nick lived. Here at Heart Gallery we are so proud to be showcasing his latest collection based on Alice in Wonderland that the workshop have brought to life from Nick’s books.
Today the Brick and Bean team work from their studio which is an old bakery overlooking the Staffordshire countryside. It remains a small family business run by Jean and her daughters, Philippa and Liz, along with an extended family of dedicated jewellery graduates Mandy, Katie, Jenni and Helen who ensure that every piece is made to the highest quality and posted off on time.
Nick never knew just how exceptionally wonderful he was, in one of his last emails he wrote ‘I am not making myself a rich man but a happy one!’ … what more can be said? x
Amy hand-makes jewellery using precious metals in which she draws linear and simplified shapes that also create interesting voids of space. 
Inspired by the baroque style, she has incorporated the lavish leaf like curves and curls often found in sculptures and bordering frames. 
The layers and asymmetrical shapes give the pieces volume whilst also sitting flat and elegant when worn.
Amy also uses her metalwork skills working as an armature maker at Mackinnon & Saunders making stop-motion animation puppets – seen in films such as The Corpse Bride, Fantastic Mr Fox, Frankenweenie and children’s programs, Postman Pat, Twirlywoos, Toby’s Travelling Circus and Strange Hill High. The armature is a steel, skeleton structure designed and made to give the puppet maximum movement for the animator.
Heart Gallery is proud to be stocking Amy’s work once more after working with her a few years ago; it’s great to see her collection growing.
Heart Gallery Blog 