Judy H. McPhee is a Canadian artist whose creative life spans two dedicated practices: photography and handcrafted jewellery. Born in Edmonton, Alberta and raised on the West Coast of British Columbia, Judy developed an early interest in visual expression through her father—a passionate photographer who introduced her to cameras, equipment, and the quiet art of observation. This early foundation bloomed into a long-standing engagement with photography as both a personal passion and public practice. Her photographs have appeared in exhibitions across Salt Spring Island for more than a decade.

Judy’s jewellery practice began in the early 1980s while she worked within the gemstone wholesale industry. As she traveled through the world of cut stones and carving stock, she began collecting cultured pearls—each with distinct origins, colours, and subtle variations that fascinated her. Over time this collection evolved into the foundation of her artistic craft: designing and hand-making pearl jewellery.

Working from her Salt Spring studio, Judy creates pieces in sterling silver and gold-filled settings, letting the natural character of each pearl guide the design. Her work emphasizes classic simplicity, the organic beauty of nacre, and the timeless appeal of one of humanity’s oldest and most beloved gemstones.

While Judy maintains an active career as a photographer—exhibiting widely and participating in many Salt Spring Photo Club shows—her jewellery is the focus of her representation at Steffich Fine Art. The two practices inform each other quietly: her photographer’s eye brings a sensitivity to detail, light, and form; her jewellery offers an intimate, tactile counterpart to her images.

Today, Judy’s jewellery continues to resonate with collectors who value craftsmanship, elegance, and the enduring appeal of pearls.

“Pearls carry a natural beauty that needs very little intervention. My work is simply to honour what is already there—shape, glow, softness—and create pieces that let the pearl speak for itself.”