An independent jeweller has won a competition run by the Ashmolean Museum and an international contemporary crafts festival.

Mia Houghton will partner with the Oxford museum and Handmade Oxford to create an exclusive jewellery collection, after she won the Handmade Oxford competition.

The new line will be sold in the museum's gift shop and online later this year.

A piece by Mia HoughtonA piece by Mia Houghton (Image: The Ashmolean)

Ms Houghton’s brand, Mijoux Creations, based in Wiltshire, fits the Ashmolean's retail strategy of working with UK-based, independent makers and focusing on natural, sustainable materials for products.

Mijoux Creations offers unique pieces created using silver, enamel and gemstones.

Claire Lane, commercial director at the Ashmolean, said: "The Ashmolean loves selling bespoke designs and Handmade Oxford provides a wonderful showcase to discover new talent.

"Mia’s creative process really appealed to us and we are thrilled to be able to offer her the opportunity to create a timeless piece inspired by our collections to be gifted or treasured forever by our customers."

Ms Houghton added: "I knew that this competition ran at Handmade Oxford but I never thought I would have the honour to win it.

Pieces by Mia HoughtonPieces by Mia Houghton (Image: The Ashmolean)

"There are so many talented artists working in different mediums at the event that it feels like a dream come true to win."

On her work process, she said: "I find inspiration in many different things including nature, the beauty of geometry and of course art and antiquities.

"I often start my creative process with a small grain of an idea which begins to develop with little doodles and sketches while I am working on other things.

"Once I feel an idea has taken hold I will 'play' with it in metal.

"This may be making a part of the piece to give myself a 3D view of it and experimenting with some colours in enamel.

Pieces by Mia HoughtonPieces by Mia Houghton (Image: The Ashmolean)

"Once I feel I have found the element that is most important, I can develop it in different ways to create a collection of pieces to complement each other or be worn together."

She added: "For my series of mountain pendants I have drawn inspiration from Hokusai's '36 views of Mount Fuji'.

"I love the bold colours used in the landscapes and the way the mountain is always in the picture but not always the main event.

"The simplicity of these pendants and the gorgeous colours of the enamel have really caught customer's attention."

Last year’s competition winner, artist and ceramicist Emma Baldwin, worked with the Ashmolean to create a collection called The Ruskin’s Kingfisher range, based on Ruskin’s ‘Study of a Kingfisher’ drawing.