Nicky Mac is a contemporary artist based near Orpington in South-East London. A mother of two boys and owner of a much-loved golden doodle, her creative journey began in childhood, shaped by an artistic upbringing and a deep connection to place, memory and nature.
Born into a creative family with an artist mother, Nicky spent her early years living in Indonesia and Guyana before growing up in rural Wiltshire. Surrounded by the ancient white horses carved into the downs, alongside the mystical landscapes of Avebury and Silbury Hill, she developed a lifelong love of horse riding, the countryside and the natural world. These early influences continue to echo throughout her work today.
After completing an Art Foundation at Trowbridge College, Nicky went on to study Textile Design at The Glasgow School of Art. Although her path initially led away from a career in interiors and into creative roles within charities and graphic design, art remained a constant undercurrent. Following a successful 25-year career in design, she returned to her first love in 2021, reigniting her long-held dream of becoming a full-time contemporary fine artist.
Her work exists in the space between motion and stillness, instinct and intuition, the tangible and the unseen. Describing her style as symbolic figurative art, Nicky creates richly textured, expressive works where abstraction and dreamlike symbolism merge into a visual language that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
Drawn to the raw energy of horses and wild animals, as well as mythic figures and archetypal symbols, her paintings explore themes of transformation, spirit and emotional resonance. Through layered mark-making and abstraction, she loosens the boundaries of reality, allowing intuition and mysticism to shape each piece into something felt as much as seen.
Rather than simply depicting the visible world, Nicky’s work seeks to awaken emotion, memory and instinct. Her paintings invite the viewer into moments of wonder, reflection and inner stillness, offering spaces to pause, reconnect and rediscover the deeper, wilder parts of themselves.
Please feel free to message me to enquire about my available artworks or any bespoke commission requests. I’d be thrilled to hear from you.
