Philip Nelson graduated at what is now Buckingham University in 1968 with an honours degree in three-dimensional design specialising in metal. He went on to a career in product design, silversmithing and jewellery making, working in Holland and England, at which time his work was shown in galleries in the UK, Europe and USA. After a period of teaching, Philip was inspired to return to full-time silvermithing by the work of Joe Campoli, applying his craftsmanship in silver around the glass pieces that Joe produced.  By working each piece individually and allowing the structure, colour and form of the glass to suggest the design for the finished jewellery results in the  varieties of style and techniques expressed in the finished pieces. He finds the light and airy translucency of glass very exciting after working with precious and semi precious stones.

Joe Campoli, who hails from New England has always had an interest in the
translucency, colour and reflective qualities of glass. After art college in Boston he
studied stained glass in Pittsfield Massachusetts, followed by glass blowing courses at the Berkshire Centre for Contemporary glass, and at the Fellerman and Raab studios in Sheffield, Mass. Joe has developed techniques in traditional kiln work through fusing slumping and casting. Each piece is individual, experimenting with unusual materials. When integrated with the silversmithing expertise of Philip Nelson produces one-off pieces of jewellery with unique qualities.