NICKY HEARD
ARTIST INSPIRED BY NATURE
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I am an artist inspired by the natural world. After 25 years of being Head of the Art Department in Crofton School, Stubbington, I took early retirement in order to pursue my passion of making art. Wool Painting is a unique technique that I discovered through my interests in experimenting with media, and has now become my signature style and most recognisable works. The 'Ammonite Series', were my first series of Wool Paintings; the soft and delicate material of merino wool has been cleverly manipulated to resemble the hard, detailed rocky surface of ammonite swirls. This illusion makes it initially difficult to tell the media used, only being revealed upon a closer inspection of the work. I also have a large portfolio of other mixed media works from over my teaching years. Techniques such as; printing, painting, ceramics, drawing, sculpture and mixed media. My versatile practice revolves around the wildlife, the natural world and my love for the outdoors and environmental conservation.
I run regular art classes and workshops for all ages and abilities from home and at other locations on request. I also exhibit my work around Hampshire and I'm currently expanding the reach of my work beyond my home county.
I work from my art cabin in my back garden at home. I set up the space with my wools, canvases and equipment, and from then it's been my art studio. I am lucky to have a space in which I can make large works - slowly my pieces have got bigger and bigger in size which has been an exciting process for me to develop and expand my practice.
This is also the space where I run my classes and workshops. It will fit a maximum of 8 people, and means that it will be small, personal classes with plenty of 1:1 tuition.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME, MEET ME, VIEW MY WORK THIS YEAR
CHALKS GALLERY, LYMINGTON, NEW FOREST 28 JUNE - 1 OCTOBER 22
SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS, ROMSEY 6 JULY - 13 JULY 22
ON SITE ALL DAY SUNDAY 10 JULY 22
MUDEFORD ARTS FESTIVAL, CHRISTCHURCH, DORSET 30-31 JULY 22
HAMPSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS, GARDEN STUDIO, LOCKS HEATH 20-25 AUGUST 22
SOUTHERN NATURE ART EXHIBITION, FAREHAM, HAMPSHIRE. 26-29 AUGUST 22
GARDEN SHOW BROADLANDS, ROMSEY, HAMPSHIRE 30, 31 SEPTEMBER - 1 OCTOBER 22
FAREHAM ART GROUP ANNUAL EXHIBITION 28-30 OCTOBER 22
FORT PURBROOK CHRISTMAS FAIR, PORTSMOUTH 5-6 NOVEMBER 22
I WILL ALSO BE ATTENDING A NUMBER OF ART / MAKERS MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR - EVENT AND LOCATION INFORMATION ADVERTISED THROUGH INSTAGRAM ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
OR
IF YOU WANT TO PURCHASE THAT SPECIAL GIFT FOR A NATURE LOVER OR ADD TO YOUR ART COLLECTION YOU CAN VISIT MY STUDIO BY APPOINTMENT. GET IN TOUCH THROUGH MY CONTACT PAGE
ARTIST CV
Education
1993 - 1994
Post Graduate in Teaching Art
1985 - 1988
BA (Hons) Ceramics and Glass Degree
Exhibitions
2022
Aquamarine,. Chalks Gallery, Lymington.
2022
Into the Wild. Chalks Gallery, Lymington.
2022
Titchfield Art Show, Titchfield Community Centre. WINNER OF JUDGES VOTE.
2022
Cabinet of Curiosities. Chalks Gallery, Lymington.
2021
Titchfield Art & Craft Show, Titchfield Community Centre. COMMENDED BY JUDGES.
2021
Southern Nature Art Exhibition. Westbury Manor Museum, Fareham.
2021
Fareham Art Exhibition, Titchfield Community Centre.
2021
Southern Nature Art Exhibition. WINNER OF JUDGES VOTE.
2021
Hampshire Open Studios, Studio Address.
2020
Southern Nature Art Exhibition, Online. WINNER OF PUBLIC VOTE.
2020
Hampshire Open Studios, Studio Address.
2020
Plastic Free Shop, Warsash
2020
Pop-Up Exhibition. Artists Inspired By Nature, Locks Heath Centre
2019
Nicky Heard, Wickham Art Fair
2019
Artists Inspired by Nature, Hampshire Open Studios
2019
Turning the Tide, Explosions Museum Gosport
2018
Ammonite Series, Fareham Public Library
TEACHER
1994-2019
Head of Art Department at Crofton Secondary School for 25 years. Taught 11-16 year olds KS3 and GCSE classes.
ARTIST
TEACHER
2019- present
Retired in 2019 to become a full time felt painting artist after spending a year developing the technique and studying the art of textiles and fibres.
2019- present
Run felt painting classes and workshops from home in my art cabin for any age or skill set.
ACHIEVEMENTS
JUDGES CHOICE - 1ST PLACE
2022
Titchfield Art and Craft Show.
Work: Hippo (2020) Wool and Ink on Canvas, 50x75cm.
JUDGES CHOICE - COMMENDED
2021
Titchfield Art and Craft Show.
Work: Bee (2020) Wool and Ink on Canvas, 40x40cm.
JUDGES CHOICE - WINNER
2021
Southern Nature Art Exhibition
Work: Red Kite I (2021) Wool and Ink on Canvas, 100x100cm.
PUBLIC CHOICE - WINNER
2020
Southern Nature Art Exhibition
Work: Giraffe (2020) Wool and Ink on Canvas, 100x50cm.
PUBLICATIONS
The GUARDIAN Newspaper Sat 28 May 2022
The DIGITAL CLOTH e-magazine - issue 6 - 2020
2020
Article written for the Digital Cloth Magazine
October, issue 6
