OUR STORY
Opal Jewellery Studio + Gallery is a shared creative space on Gabriola Island, home to artists Taylor Hancock and Nina Turczyn. Within its walls, traditional metalsmithing meets contemporary design, and every piece is thoughtfully handcrafted with intention and artistry.
Inspired by the natural world and the cosmos, the studio’s work reflects flowing water, shifting tides, and starlit skies—translated into silver, gold, and luminous gemstones. Each creation honours the balance between organic form and refined craftsmanship.
The gallery showcases the evolving collections of both artists, offering visitors a glimpse into their distinct styles and shared dedication to beauty, quality, and meaning.
Opal is more than a workspace—it’s a reflection of collaboration, creativity, and the timeless art of jewellery making.
TAYLOR HANCOCK
Taylor Hancock is an artist, jeweller, and tarot creator based on Gabriola Island, British Columbia. With a background in art history, photography, design, and technical drafting, their work bridges fine art, graphic illustration, and traditional metalsmithing. Raised in a creatively driven environment, Taylor developed an early appreciation for strong visual storytelling, bold design, and the balance between structure and intuition—elements that continue to shape their work today.
Their creative practice began through illustration and tarot design, creating tools centered around self-discovery, reflection, and personal growth. Combining graphic linework with symbolic imagery, Taylor’s tarot decks are designed to feel both visually striking and deeply approachable, encouraging meaningful connection through everyday ritual.
This exploration naturally expanded into jewellery design, where Taylor trained in traditional metalsmithing techniques under the mentorship of a local Gabriola Island jeweller. Working primarily in silver and gold, they create handcrafted pieces inspired by organic forms, natural textures, celestial symbolism, and the quiet magic found in the natural world. Their jewellery balances simplicity with intention—pieces designed to feel timeless, personal, and quietly powerful.
Whether through illustration, tarot, or jewellery, Taylor’s work is rooted in the belief that art can be both beautiful and transformative. Each piece is created with care, inviting a sense of connection, curiosity, and meaning in the objects we choose to surround ourselves with.
Third Empress is Taylor’s personal jewellery line, created on-site at OPAL Jewellery Studio + Gallery on Gabriola Island. To view her illustrative works please visit thefoxtarot.com
NINA TURCZYN
My journey into jewellery began in childhood, learning at my mother’s bench. She was a goldsmith herself, and we studied and worked together in Doha, Qatar, where I first discovered the quiet discipline and joy of working with metal. At the same time, my father — an architect, photographer, and artist — gave me a deep appreciation for design, light, and structure. Growing up, my life was full of art and design, a foundation that continues to inform everything I create.
I went on to earn a degree in design and built a career as a graphic designer and illustrator, honing my eye for form, balance, and storytelling through visual language. Those years in design continue to shape the way I approach jewellery — with a sensitivity to line, proportion, and the power of an object to communicate meaning.
Over time, my path led me back to the bench. I studied stonesetting in Belgium, opened and ran my own boutique studio in Canada, and eventually became head instructor at Argentum Jewellery School in Victoria, BC. Teaching others deepened my connection to the work and reaffirmed my belief in the value of jewellery made by hand.
My pieces have been exhibited in major galleries & museums across Canada and worn by clients who value quality, story, and individuality. Now based in Xàbia, Spain, Nina Alexandra is the next chapter in my journey — a collection shaped by the places I’ve lived, the people I’ve met, and the milestones that mark a life.
Every piece is handcrafted in small batches in our studios in Spain and Canada. Inspired by art, history, and the richness of experience, each design carries the mark of the maker — intentional, imperfect, and full of character — creating a lasting connection between the work and the wearer.
This is jewellery made to travel with you. To honour where you’ve been, and to celebrate where you’re going next.