Nicholas Varney

PARTNER

After Carleton Varney’s passing in 2022, his sons Nicholas and Sebastian became co-owners of Dorothy Draper & Company, Inc., with Nicholas consulting on the creative side.

It comes as no surprise that Nicholas Varney would choose to be an artist after growing up in a family with a sophisticated influence in design. His father, a renowned interior designer and his mother Suzanne, founder of the respected textile firm Carleton V. His extensive travels throughout his childhood opened his eyes to the beauties of nature and the richness of different cultures around the world.

After graduating from the Gemological Institute of America in Vicenza, Italy Nicholas decided to open his design studio first in New York and then in 2021 opening his jewelry shop in Via Amore, Palm Beach, Florida.

As a jewelry artisan Nicholas has always been inspired by nature and the organic. His use of precious metals, rare natural pearls, and colorful gemstones mixed with wood, cork eggshell, and coral create an unexpected beauty rarely seen in fine jewelry. There is a whimsical aesthetic to his work that gives a wonderful balance to the boldness of his designs.

Over the years Nicholas has received many accolades as an artist, he was inducted into the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) in 2006. He was the featured designer for the opening of the Gem and Mineral exhibit at the Carnegie museum in Pittsburgh. Forbes named Varney one of “Five Jewelers Working Today That You Will Be Collecting Tomorrow”. Nicholas has been featured in various publications including Veranda, Town and Country, Vogue, Departures, and W magazine. He was the only American jewelry designer to be featured in the book, “21st Century Jewelry Designers: An Inspired Style” by Juliet Weir-de la Rochefoucauld and most recently was featured in the book, “Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks and Visionaries of Modern Design,” by SteIlene Volandes.