NickyD Artistry

ABOUT

Textile & Mixed Media Landscapes Inspired by Nature, Light, and Soul

Hello and thank you for visiting. I’m Nicky, a textile and mixed medium artist based in Melbourne, working primarily from the beautiful Banyule and Nillumbik regions—communities deeply rooted in creativity and connection to nature.

From as early as I can remember, making has been part of who I am. I grew up surrounded by handmade beauty—my father was a renowned potter and wood turner, and my mother excelled in every craft she touched. Our weekends were spent selling our creations at the iconic St Andrews Market, where I developed not only my love for making, but an appreciation for artistic communities and the stories behind the work.

Although my professional background is in administration and project management, creativity has always been the constant thread weaving through my life. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of working on TV sets, murals, trompe l’oeil finishes, teaching airbrushing, restoring National Trust homes, and designing window displays for Myer Grace Bros. These experiences have helped shape my visual language and my love of texture, colour, and storytelling.

Today, my art practice is rooted in creating richly layered landscapes using embroidery, textiles, wool, felt, paint, and thread. Every piece begins with an image that speaks to my soul—most often a place in nature where I’ve felt peace, wonder, or joy. I begin with only a pencil outline, then work freehand, layering distant skies through to foreground details, building colour and texture with each stitch. It’s intuitive, meditative, and deeply personal.

Much of my work is created from my bed or recliner, as I live with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, and Crohn’s Disease, two chronic illness that have reshaped my life. While physically and socially isolating, these conditions have also deepened my connection to my craft. Embroidery became my solace—a clean, slow, and expressive artform that meets me where I am. It allowed me to continue creating when everything else felt out of reach.

My first series—landscapes of Phillip Island—was born from these quiet moments. Inspired by a treasured family heirloom, a beautifully embroidered wedding kimono hanging beside my bed, I began stitching my favourite coastal scenes as a way to bring the outside world in. That series helped me find myself again, and I’ve never looked back.

Today, I continue to explore the emotional power of landscapes, light, and colour. From the soft blues of a Mornington sunrise to the golden stillness of sunset over the Winton Wetlands dam wall, I use thread and texture to evoke feeling—connection, comfort, and wonder. Commissions from others’ special places push my creativity further and expand the emotional resonance of my work.

Exhibiting with collectives such as the Naarm Textile Collective and Brunswick Street Gallery, and sharing work both locally and internationally, has allowed me to be part of a wider conversation about art, wellbeing, and the beauty of handmade practice. I’m deeply grateful to the photographers who allow me to reference their stunning images, and to those who find meaning in my work.

At its heart, NickyDArtistry is about finding beauty and healing in nature, in colour, in stillness—and translating that into something tactile, heartfelt, and lasting. It’s a practice born from both joy and hardship, and I hope each piece brings a sense of peace and connection to those who experience it.

Thank you for being here,

NickyD

If you wish to follow my work on Instagram my link is here: