Nichola Roberts

Nichola R. didn’t grow up expecting to be an artist. Raised in New Zealand and now based in Australia, she discovered painting purely by chance when she joined a friend at a workshop—and something in her shifted. What began as an experiment quickly became a calling, and she has been painting ever since. Entirely self-taught, Nichola learned by doing: watching, testing, layering, wiping back, and trusting her instincts. Her work moves between bold, abstract colour fields and delicately layered scenes inspired by the forests, beaches, and shifting light of Apollo Bay, where she spends much of her time. The coastline, the misty rainforest, and the open sky often find their way into her canvases—not literally, but as atmospheres, feelings, and quiet echoes of place. Nichola paints mainly with acrylics, using generous texture and intuitive movement to capture emotion rather than detail. As a Reiki Master, she believes the energy she carries flows directly into her work; many people describe a calm, uplifting presence when they stand in front of her paintings. What connects all of Nichola’s pieces—whether soft and serene or bright and expressive—is her belief that art should make people feel something. She sees each painting as an offering: a moment of colour, energy, or stillness that someone might connect with in their own way. For her, there’s something special about finding a piece of art that speaks to you—and she’s grateful every time her work becomes that moment for someone else.

This artist is part of Australia's wider art marketplace and arts trail. Browse original Australian art from artists across Australia.