Monica Boxley

Monica Boxley is a professional artist whose work spans jewelry, textiles, and painting.

Monica commenced her career as a teacher, seemingly unrelated to art. She worked with English language learners, facilitating their access to the curriculum.

However, her creative passion lay dormant until, after 22 years in education, she pursued training as a jeweler in London. Gradually transitioning from teaching, she delved into a craft-oriented environment.

Always harboring a dream of crafting jewelry, Monica found joy in the alchemy of shaping silver wire or sheet into unique, stylish pieces.

Operating from her studio in West London, Monica spent many years as a jeweler, passing on her knowledge to younger apprentices. Her journey took an unexpected turn upon discovering a 1960s photograph of her mother, Marianne, holding a handbag. This encounter inspired “The Marianne Handbag,” which was locally produced in an east London workshop. Small-batch production garnered a decade of loyal clientele and collectors.

Approximately eight years ago, Monica transitioned to creating unique fabrics for clothing, driven by her love for color, pattern, and expressive design. Mastering various techniques, she transformed vibrant surface prints into shirts and jackets.

Monica’s artistic journey faced early discouragement during her schooling, where art was discouraged. Despite this, she rediscovered her passion six years ago through a local art class. Experimenting with different materials, she honed her skills in portraits, landscapes, and abstract art.

The COVID-19 lockdown became a catalyst for Monica’s artistic evolution. Engaging in daily drawing and painting sessions, she immersed herself in multi-layered artworks across various media. Employing collages of printed papers on painted surfaces became one of her signature techniques, allowing her to fully embrace abstract art.

Monica’s love for travel nurtures her curiosity, always remaining open to new experiences and embracing the unknown. Abstract art, with its capacity for expression, has allowed her to connect universally with people worldwide, drawn from her diverse interactions and experiences.