Nancy Nicholson

This month we are talking to Nancy Nicholson, our Artist of the Month and exciting new Art Brand, about the inspirations and stories behind her 'Contemporary Folk' style of artwork.

Nancy was born in Bromley, Kent and moved to Sissinghurst when she was six months old. She considers herself a country girl! Nancy still lives and works in Kent, we found out more... 

          

What was your favourite subject at school?

I wasn’t a great fan of school, but I did love Art and English. They never taught me the things I was desperate to know ... About life. In Science they gave up on me and I was told if I was quiet I could sit at the back and read ... Which I did

Are you a Trained or Self-taught Artist?

I learnt as I went along, but my parents guided me all their lives.

(The photograph above shows Nancy with her parents, Roger and Joan Nicholson, and her brother. Roger & Joan Nicholson were both leading artists of their time and took part in the Festival of Britain).

How did you become an Artist?

Does one become one or is it inside you from birth waiting for you to discover it?

How long have you been an artist for?

Since I could hold a pencil and use a pair of scissors. Never stopped making things. Life would not be right for me if it did not fill my every day one way or another.

            

How did your style evolve?

It’s funny how your tastes stay more or less the same from an early age, just develop as you learn and grow, but I have always loved printed textiles, embroidery

Where and what did you study?

I went to Art College at 18 and did a foundation course, then 3 years BA in Graphic Design and 2 years at Royal College of Art doing an MA in Fine Art Textiles.

What media do you prefer?

I work using hand embroidery, and also machine embroidery, I draw and love printmaking, and working with 3d paper forms.

                 

Do you have any preferred subjects?

I love Graphic Design, textiles of all kinds, folk art, illustration both contemporary and vintage, printmaking, I also collect old wooden toys, and shop letters and many other treasures.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

All over the place! My mother’s work is a huge influence on my work, and the era when she was at her height of creativity (she was an embroideress and designer working from 1950s - 2000, and was an author and also a contributor to the Needlework Developement Scheme)

                         

But I draw inspiration from children’s illustrators from my childhood like Brian Wildsmith, from designers like Alexander Girard, Bruno Munari, Enzo Mari, Stig Lindberg, Robert Stewart .... How long can this list be? Nature (obviously!) Colour just gets me up in the morning ... This could be quite long ... Look at my Pinterest boards!

Describe your perfect day:

That depends on whether it’s a working day or a pleasure day ... The usual really, spending time with friends, cooking and relaxed chat preferably in a lovely garden on a sunny day ... Exhibitions, feeding the mind, or watching a good film on a rainy afternoon with log fire and mug of tea ... This sounds like online dating profile now ...

What piece of your work are you most proud of and why?

I think it has to be starting this business and watching it grow after such a difficult time when I was very ill. I am proud of that. It has given my great confidence to keep going.

            

Have you done any interesting commissions? Or done work for anyone notable?

I did an embroidery once for a commercial for an air freshener (which I can’t mention) and had to embroider a modern take on the Bayeux Tapestry ... Don’t ask me why, but it was jaw droppingly good pay!

What's been your best-selling design or piece of work to date?

Definitely the Cat. I am currently working on a new Cat design.

Which piece of work has attracted the most attention?

People love the “one off” machine embroideries and there is one with two birds  that has spun around the internet and which I really should make into a kit!

     

Which kind of work do you enjoy doing the most?

Designing and thinking up and trialing new designs. I love doing the downloads also, creating a projects which people can print instantly and away they go!

                 

Do you carry around a sketch-book at all times?!

I have notebooks as I write down ideas as well as draw them

What’s your favourite thing to illustrate?

Plants and abstracted plant forms and of course BIRDS! I really enjoy developing patterns too.

What would your dream project be?

I would love to spend more time designing for surfaces, fabrics, other kinds of craft kits. I have long wanted to produce a range of craft based products for Tate Modern.

Who would be your dream client?

Tate Modern ... John Lewis?

A fabric producer. Someone who would take over the production of the kits and let me get on with designing them.

Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration?

My mother. See above

Which is your favourite Yellow House Art Licensing artist & why?

Paul Thurlby and Ken Eardley ... fab

What's on your drawing-board/ in your kiln / on your easel / etc. right now?

I am working on some new designs for embroidery kits, but also planning to make some more one off embroideries from vintage velvets and silks. I am also trying to learn portraiture.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Getting back on track after breast cancer 5 years ago

Do you have any top tips for being an artist that you can give us?

Draw every day if you possibly can.

What’s your favourite joke?

Having a very short term memory means I can never remember jokes! But I always loved limericks as a child and remember this one which used to make me chuckle …

There was an old man from St Bees

Who was stung on the arm by a wasp

When asked if it hurt

He said “No it doesn’t,

I’m so glad it wasn’t a hornet.”

"I just loved the fact that it didn’t rhyme … but it’s not particularly funny, well I think it is!" 

     

See more of Nancy Nicholson's portfolio