Let me tell you a little bit about this truly renaissance creative adventurer, and how this multifaceted explosion of creativity came to be who she is today…

The Early Arty Years…

I was born and raised in Devon, daughter to a carpenter and a dressmaker, I was shy and not one of the cool kids but I excelled in the arts. So, I spent most of my free time creating artworks in my sketchbooks, decorating my little wooden studio in the forest, and singing to myself. My first exhibition was in St Petersburg, Russia, when I was just 17, in a cultural arts exchange.

I started dreaming of going to Falmouth College of Arts when I was 15 because it looked so beautiful and was one of the best colleges in the UK. They didn’t yet run an illustration degree but I knew that was where I wanted to study. By the time I applied years later, the universe had delivered – Falmouth C.A. had founded the B.A. program. My first application was rejected, on the basis that I needed to complete a Foundation Course in Art and Design. Even though I didn’t really want to (because I wanted to go straight to Falmouth) I enrolled at Somerset college of Arts and Technology and spent a year, to be honest, not doing an awful lot. I did however, make some life long friends, which in hindsight was probably the gift the universe had planned for me there – I met Ant, a wonderful creative man who would eventually become my life partner.

The second application to Falmouth (using virtually the same portfolio) was accepted and I excitedly moved myself to Cornwall and enjoyed a wonderful Cornish art student life beside the sea. But art wasn’t my only passion, while studying I also pursued my other passion – singing! During the Falmouth years I lead several bands and youth groups in Cornwall. I won my first karaoke competition there too and received my winnings from the Mayor of Falmouth. In the summer holidays I would work as Carpenters Assistant to my Joiner father, making bespoke kitchens to help pay my way through college. After three years, I graduated with a B.A. (Hons) in Illustration – My first dream fulfilled.

In the year that followed I worked as a part-time Art Teacher in a private school in Devon, I also managed a small art gallery, and sang in a few more bands whilst saving enough money to go and study for a diploma in Events Management, Production, Music and Leadership, at Hillsong College in Sydney, Australia!

It was the adventure of a lifetime! In Sydney, I sang in even more ensembles, created and exhibited yet more artwork, and gained a LOT of experience in events management. In my second year, I led a team of creatives in set design & build, staging and atmosphere. Every week we would dress a 3000 seat auditorium for major events. Although one of my ‘highs’ from these Australian years was lead singing in a function band on ‘Sydney Glass Island’ as it sailed around Sydney harbour at night – So amazing!

The years at Hillsong Leadership College grew my confidence and introduced me to a whole new way of thinking, and it birthed in me a passion for personal growth and development that continues to this day.

The Corporate Business Years…

After more than two years in Sydney, and some adventures in New Zealand, I returned to the UK (with a new boyfriend) and I started working as a Children’s book illustrator on a group project that would be sold in Marks & Spencer, and then produced several more books with the same team before I eventually entered the much more down to earth and stressful world of corporate work.

For four years I worked for a national company, based in Oxford running a property management center of over 400 properties, for which I was awarded Property Manager of The Year. After a series of rapid promotions I became a consultant for the company in a team that created a new purpose built computer management system for the entire national portfolio as the company transitioned to being International. Although I found myself to be an extremely capable property manager on the rise, my heart was not in this industry and I looked for a way out.

The Musical Years…

Through a strange turn of events this new job introduced me to a new group of people and I soon found myself immersed in the local live music scene and learning to play guitar properly – It was brilliant distraction from a job I increasingly hated. Initially, I would just take part in open mic nights, then my friend Lee and I formed a duo, and went busking as Lee ‘n’ Loy in the streets of Oxford. Soon we were invited to perform at local events and festivals.

Busking was eye opening, I quickly realised through the appreciation of the crowds that would gather around me when I busked alone, that I had what it took to make a living from music. I was making more in my lunch break busking than working a day in my job. So I quit the 9-5 and became a full time solo singer and entertainer! In time, as I learned to promote and market myself, I became a local celeb of sorts regularly appearing on local radio, writing a column for the Oxford Mail newspaper, guest performing for other artists, and taking part as a local ‘celeb’ in the Strictly Oxford Ballroom dancing challenge – It was all pretty great but not quite a dream come true, yet!

After a few years experimenting with different musical projects, I discovered metaphysics (Wow! What a game changer), and through my boyfriend who was training to be a psychotherapist I started to learn even more about the human psyche and its development. I also started receiving coaching from the Tony Robbins team. At this stage I really felt my life shift up a gear or two.

Musically, I went on to form a band, played many many gigs and festivals. Then I completed a 52 week song writing challenge and that resulted in me getting signed and recording an album – Pivotal. I finally was making a mark on the UK Music Scene and getting some serious insight into the UK music industry. I got to supported Westlife’s Shane Filan on his successful 10 date UK Tour, and having already played such iconic venues as the 100 Club and Ronnie Scott’s bar, London, in 2017 I then went on to 32 date tour supporting Sam Bailey playing major venues and concert halls all over the UK – More of my dreams were coming true!

During all this I co-wrote for a well known Saatchi & Saatchi ad campaign shown on billboards and television nationwide. My award winning video for her single ‘Can I Keep You’ was then chosen by the BBC to be part of their Music Video Festival, screened on big screens in town centers across the UK, I also reached the final of the UK Songwriting Contest. With a back catalogue of two albums, two EPs and a live album and a fairly impressive resume of gigs, I became a pretty established musician, across the UK. 

The music that pours out of me is a unique blend of all that poured in – Blues, Soul, funk, pop, Americana, I have eclectic tastes. It’s been said of my tunes…

” Her songs are shaped by both pain and joy; there is a hopefulness and inspiration pervading these tracks, and the stories she tells, which will move and motivate every listener to follow their dreams and take hold of their future happiness.”

The Wandering Years…

After all of this success in my career I wasn’t happy at home, I broke up with my boyfriend and decided to ‘switch it up’. The Van Life movement was just getting started and not knowing what else to do with my personal life, I built my own tour bus! A self-built campervan called Luna Van Blanc. This led me in a whole new direction – 37,000 miles in the first years gigging and touring around the UK and Europe. It was amazing, and absolutely the best decision I ever made. I documented it a YouTube series, I was ‘The gutsy girl who turned her back on heartache and a life that didn’t fulfil and went off an incredible journey in search of her new happy place’!?

It turns out that happy place was a garage in West Sussex run by my old art college friend Ant. I eventually started helping him grow his dream business – a VW restoration company. This and a painful parting from my record label, the global shut down, and a long healing journey from a broken leg (because of a passion for roller skating) meant a pivot away from the music industry and deeper into the world of creative arts, personal development and well being.

During my years helping with Kustom Revival, I built many more custom van interiors for clients but I also built Gladys, a beautiful artist studio in a converted library bus which I’ve filled with works of art, my own paintings, up-cycled furniture, wood and jewelry crafts. I also use Gladys to occasionally host workshops, community arts events and attend festivals. 

I now live in West Sussex and between roller skating and cold water sea swimming, work as a Creative Consultant sharing my multifaceted skills and experience with others. It’s is very diverse, interesting and satisfying.  Personally, I’m focused on creating a variety of arts events, workshops and circles while also creating a new collection of artwork, and writing a book! 

So, thanks for reading my story thus far! It’s been the most creative and adventurous of lives, I feel like I’ve lived many in this one. It’s given me an unique skill set and perspective and I am always happy to help other people make changes and live their dreams too. If I can help you drop me a message in the form below.

Love,

Contact Nikki:

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