meet nick hubbard

the story so far….

Nick Hubbard was born in Oxford in May, 1955.
His first home was a caravan and as space was limited Nick's first bed was in a drawer!

After moving several times the family settled in Nottinghamshire. Nick had a happy childhood and after winning a few handwriting competitions Nick was inspired to consider hand engraving as a career option. In 1972, Nick enrolled at Birmingham School of Jewellery.

After trying his hand at engraving Nick's path took a slight turn and Nick spent the next three years training to be a silversmith. It was whilst on this course that Nick met Jean a ‘true Yorkshire lass’ (he didn’t know it yet but Jean was later to become his wife!) From their first year of being together Nick and Jean began collecting comic-art related memorabilia. Whilst living together as poor students they once purchased a small Tom Philipps print ‘The flowers before the bench’ instead of paying the rent. Luckily Nick’s father stepped up with the cash to pay the rent that month.

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.

A few years later there were another two additions to the Hubbard family – two miniature dachshunds ‘Little Lou’ and ‘Tess Bear’.

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! Being passionate collectors of all things small, Nick and Jean's home is full of cabinets of curios. These small treasures of bought and found objects provide inspiration for much of Nick's work along with his interest in literature, music, art and film.

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.

This logo is a play on words of Nick and his wife’s name ‘Nick and Jean’.

Today Nick works from his studio; an old bakery overlooking the Staffordshire countryside. It is a small family run business with help from the ‘Brick and Bean’ team 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.

The collection is now sold in over 80 outlets throughout the U.K. and overseas, please see our stockists page.
A few pieces are available on this website to buy direct How to buy.

Thank you for visiting!