Nicoll Anna - artist
Born into a large family of artists and creative souls, my interest in all things paper, colour, paint and ink began early – I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t creating something with any media I could find. Nowadays, and after two decades as a successful calligrapher, lettering artist and tutor, my work is focused around painting, mainly in oils and mixed media.
I really enjoy the different pace this brings to my work: calligraphy demands high levels of precision and planning. In my still lifes, figurative drawing and portraits I can express myself more freely and explore a vast range of concepts, ideas and materials. But nothing is lost – the glistening black marks on white paper, the precision and line quality of calligraphy still influence and guide my work today.
Over the years I’ve studied with many talented artists (Yvette Coppersmith and Jacqui Stockdale for example) and calligraphers, and taught lettering arts to 100s of students during my 15 years RMIT. Art is very much the foundation of my life.
My paintings and other creative work are in private and public collections worldwide. And although calligraphy is no longer my main focus, I continue to supply the corporate sector with commissioned work in Melbourne and abroad.
I work from my studio in Mordialloc, and am available by appointment only.
Public and private collections
Australia, Europe, USA, Latin America
Exhibitions and awards
Solo Exhibitions
2008: The Colour of Thought, The Sebel, Melbourne
Group Exhibitions
2011: SSiW exhibition, Melbourne
2011: Small Sculpture exhibition, BSG Fitzroy
2010: Calligraffiti, Coffs Harbour
2009: Finalist: Works On Paper 09 Juried Exhibition, Brunswick Street Gallery
2009: Small Works 09, Brunswick Street Gallery.
2008: Water, Katrina Manton Gallery
2008: Dangerous Lines, The Bunker gallery, Coffs Harbour
2008: Creative Edge, Gallery Edge
2006: Writing on the Edge, Gallery Edge
1998: Link Gallery Exhibition, Meat Market Craft Centre
1998: CSV Exhibition, Spectrum Gallery
1995: Collections Exhibition, Kingston Arts Centre
1993: Book Crafts Exhibition, Meat Market Craft Centre
Awards
2009: Finalist: Works on Paper 09 Juried Exhibition, Brunswick Street Gallery.
2008: Best Exhibit Calligraphy Experimental, 2nd & 3rd in Masters Calligraphy Section – RAS, Melbourne
2006: 3rd Prize, Very Highly Commended, Commended ñ Masters Calligraphy Section –RAS, Melbourne
1994 – 2005: Royal Melbourne Show, Open and Master’s Sections
Collaborations
2011: Artist books with author Mick Davidson
2009: Art Brainstorming Diptych Duets
2009: A Story to See – online visual narrative
2008: The Colour of Thought; Water with photographer Martin Bonnici
Publications
2010, 2011: Letter Arts Review annual juried edition
2010: Calligraphy Society of Victoria Postscript, June-July
2007: Mirca Art Group publication Freedom and Art
Education
2018, 2019: Studied with Yvette Coppersmith (2018 Archibald Prize winner)
2014–2017: Studied with Jacqui Stockdale
2009–2014: Studied with Ron Curran
Workshops with internationally renowned calligraphers Kristoffel Boudens, Michael Clarke, Tim Noad, Carl Rohrs, Yves Leterme, Claude Dietrich, Martin Jackson, Margaret Daubney, Ann Hechle, Thomas Ingmire, Denis Brown, Eliza Schulte and Melissa Andrews.
1996–1997: For the Love of Letters two-year course – Jill Colebatch
1993: Certificate of Calligraphy (2 years) at RMIT School of Design
1990–2012: Calligraphic-based courses through the Calligraphy Society of Victoria and the Council of Adult Education
Teaching
1999–2013: RMIT: 2 Year Certificate of Calligraphy, School of Design
2005–2010: RMIT Diploma of Visual Merchandising (Applied lettering, Colour, Illustration)
1997-2012: CAE, Box Hill Community Centre
2009–2012: Various specialist calligraphy classes