North Carolina metalsmith Annie Grimes Williams creates colorful enameled jewelry inspired by patterns and textures in nature as well as Mid-Century Modern designs.
Artist: Born in Winston-Salem, NC, Williams grew up in Welcome, NC, a suburb. She graduated with a BFA in metal design in 2003 from East Carolina University.
After graduating, she worked as a studio assistant, had an apprenticeship and attended many classes and workshops before pursuing a full-time career in jewelry in 2009.
In addition to designing her jewelry, Williams has taught metalsmithing and enameling workshops at various studios and facilities, such as Sawtooth School for Visual Art and Metal Arts Guild of Georgia.
Company/studio: CopperTide Contemporary Enamel Jewelry, based in Winston- Salem, started in 2009. The artist works in her home studio.
“I love the convenience of a studio in my home, where I can more easily balance work and family responsibilities,” said Williams.
Art & materials: One-of-a-kind wearable art jewelry inspired by natural patterns and textures, period design movements – and by color itself ($50 to $1,000 with the majority of pieces in the $75 to $200 range).
There are two main collections of work:
- The GeoChroma Collection features traditional enamel powder that is kiln fired, creating bright bold colors on interesting shapes, a little more contemporary and funky.
- The Microcosm Collection is more organic and features hand-drawn sgraffito designs, often graphic interpretations of natural textures, and torch-fired white enamel that takes on natural greens, yellows, reds, and purples through the heating process.
What is sgraffito: A form of decoration made by scratching through a top layer to reveal the surface underneath.
The sgraffito designs are often Williams’ graphic interpretations of patterns found in nature, such as grasses blowing in the breeze or the pattern of oyster shells stacked up in a bed.
Must-have tools:
- Vcella enameling kiln
- Thompson enamels and firing tools
- NC Black Co. hammers and forming blocks
- Greenlion Studios jeweler’s saw
Inspirations:
- A nature lover, Williams draws inspiration from her time outdoors: walks along the beach with collected seashells and wave patterns, hikes in the woods with tree bark textures, fern fronds and mushroom gills.
“A color palette might be influenced by a stroll through a summer garden,” she added. - Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern design.
“Many of my shapes reflect design elements that are classic to those periods,” said Williams. “I look at architectural elements, wallpaper and fabric patterns, vintage cookware and holiday decor.”
Recent honors:
- Exhibiting member of Piedmont Craftsmen Guild since 2014. She has been invited to participate as a guest artist at The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands for the past several years.
- Won an Award of Merit at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA. 2025.
Recent project:
- In 2020, at the height of Covid, Williams and another artist in her neighborhood, created the Ardmore Art Walk, an outdoor juried art show featuring local artists set up on the lawns in their historic neighborhood.
The show has grown from 21 artists in 2020 to 100 artists each year and continues to thrive. - In 2022, her artist collective group, the Metal Mavens, created FUSE Makers Market, an outdoor juried show on the grounds of the North Carolina Museum of Art Winston-Salem (NCMA-WS).
The show, which features 50 contemporary artists each year, will take a break in 2026 for construction at the museum, but hopes to be back in 2027.
What’s next: A new body of work with enamel pieces that include hand embroidery with thread, mimicking some of her organic sgraffito drawings, as well as some playful geometric designs and colors.
Where to buy:
- Artist’s website: coppertide.net
- Art and craft festivals, including the Atlanta (GA) Dogwood Festival (Booth 58). April 10-12.
- Galleries, including the Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery in Winston-Salem, NC.
For a complete list of retail stores and festivals, check the artist’s website.
Connect:
- Instagram: @coppertide
- Facebook: coppertide
- Pinterest: anniegwilliams
