Based in Kerikeri for the past three years, Courtenay Marshall has recently returned to jewellery-making after a two-year hiatus to welcome her first child. Now working from a studio on her family’s orchard; housed in a converted barn nestled among citrus trees; Courtenay is once again immersed in the vibrant world of enamels, reigniting her creative practice with a newly installed kiln.
Her journey began in 2016, when she discovered the joy of melting metal during a two-day introductory course at an artists' colony in downtown Los Angeles. This experience sparked a passion that led her to complete a Diploma in Jewellery at MIT and Hungry Creek Art School in Auckland.
Courtenay primarily works in silver and enamel, often incorporating repurposed stones sourced from unworn jewellery. She enjoys giving these materials a new identity and story, infusing her pieces with both history and potential. Each creation becomes a bridge between past and future; inviting new narratives from those who wear them.
Her work is deeply inspired by the evolution of human culture. Through her jewellery, Courtenay explores symbols and stories that transcend time and geography. Her current focus reflects her travels and the universal motifs; both natural and symbolic—that appear across cultures and eras.
Click on the images below to see enlargements of some of her work.
Courtenay will be exhibiting at Stop 43 during KOAST 2025 - buy a KOAST Trail Guide for further details!
