Nicole Antras BA (Hons), MA, Fine Art PTLLS CTLLS
I have made art from childhood and studied an Art Foundation course at Maidstone College of Art after which I went on to complete a BA (Hons) Fine Art at what is now Staffordshire University.
For many years I used my artistic skills working with people with learning and physical disabilities, sensory impairments and mental health issues as a means for them to enjoy their own artistic expression and the therapeutic benefits of making art. I also spent many years working wth a semi-professional theatre painting backdrops and making props.
After completing an MA in Fine Art at UCA, Canterbury in 2020 I returned to making my own art on a more full-time basis and emerging into the art world.
As a contemporary expressionist artist, I use drawing, painting, printmaking and sometimes 3D techniques in my work. Making use of a variety of mediums, I most often work with charcoal, pastels, graphite and an eraser for drawings, and oils and waterbased paints in painted pieces. Etching and Lithography were an important part of my early printmaking practice; I currently focus on dry point engravings and Lino cut techniques. The themes are mainly figurative with occasional ventures into abstraction.
My work is led by an intuitive expression, motivated by the murmurings that come from the unconscious mind and driven by a variety of subjects including nature, mythology, spirituality, psychology and the enhancement of emotional well being. It is a means for me to express my own journey of self-growth, with my aim being to enable the observer to access emotions that connect them with their higher self.
Recent pieces have been concerned with the expression of connecting with my Inner Child, the aspect of ourselves that expresses our true nature, our intuition and it's wider connection with the natural world.
I am currently looking to further develop my drawing practice and skills. Drawing has always underpinned the rest of my art practice and I would like to focus on those skills and drawing as an art form in itself.
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021
Featured Artist Interim Arts Art Gallery
2020
MA Degree Show - Online exhibition
2016
June - Retrospective Exhibition The King's Hall, Herne Bay, Kent
2013
An exhibition of paintings, prints and sculpture. Peter Blake Gallery, Dartford
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024
Under the Rainbow Spring Exhibition 6th April - 12th May, Bluewater
Adisham Arts Festival 5th & 6th April Holy Innocents Church, Adisham
Winter Show 30 January - 11 February Creek Creative Gallery, Faversham
2023
Winter Show 9 December - 9 January 2024 Halpern Gallery, Chatham
Autumn Show 21 October - 4 November Lilford Framing & Gallery, Canterbury
East Kent Open Houses - 14/15th, 21/22nd, 28/29th October - Creek Creative Studos
Rochester Art Fair 6 - 8 October The Corn Exchange, Rochester
Summer Exhibition 28 July - 29 August Halpern Gallery, Chatham
InASpace Pop-up Art Exhibition Group Show 28 May - 11 June Whitstable
Print, Print, Print Group Show 2-14 May Creek Creative Gallery, Faversham
Ten Works by Ten Artists An Exhibition of Postcard sized Drawings 18 - 30 April Creek Creative Gallery, Faversham
SCAR 8 - 29 April, The House of Smalls, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
2022
'Corresponding Narratives' - the threads that connect us, 25th October - 6th November Creek Creative Gallery, Faversham
East Kent Open Houses - 8/9th, 15/16th, 22/23rd October
The Everyday Exhibition - June - Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
Drawing Exhibition - June - Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
100 x 100 Bobcat Gallery online exhibition
The Sequested Prize - Self-portrait competition (Short Listed) online exhibition
SPECTRUM Creek Creative Gallery, Faversham
2021
100 Sketch for Survival - Conservation Collection 2021
Call & Response Art Trail Exhibition St Augustine’s Centre, Brighton
Lacuna Festivals - Distance 2021
Dickens 150 Print Exhibition Rochester Art Gallery, Rochester, Kent
Manchester 2020 Quay Street Gallery
2020
Fusion Arts Online Exhibition 6th Annual Leaves and Petals Art Competition
The Museum of You Exhibition The Beaney, Canterbury
Out of Isolation University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury
Stigma 2020 - online exhibition Art & mental health Cocreate Arts & Health
MA Students Fine Art Show Works by Ali Lees, Melanie Jordan & Nicole Antras Creek Creative Studios, Faversham
2019
I make art about …. UCA MA Fine Art students & Alumni, Joseph Wales Gallery, Margate
The Journey Open exhibition - Group Exhibition, Upper Gallery, Creek Creative Studios, Faversham
2017 & 2018
Creek Creative Open Exhibition Creek Creative Art & Design Studios, Faversham
1988 - 2010
Scenic Artist/Props maker at The Geoffrey Whitworth Theatre, Crayford
1987
"Many of them Died on the Voyage" Bloomsbury Galleries, University of London Institute of Education An exhibition of contemporary prints by BA Hons Fine Art Printmakers of North Staffordshire Polytechnic.
North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Print Show North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary
1986
North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Print Show North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary
Workshops
All Workshops cost £55.
You can e-mail me on info@atelierantras.co.uk for booking and payment details. Thank you
Intro to Lino Cut Workshop
For those new to printmaking or have never tried Lino cut before, this workshop covers the basic information you will need to be able to make a one colour lino print
There are 6 spaces available for this workshop.
All materials & equipment are provided, so you don't have to bring anything and it is very much an introduction to the basics of lino cut. So if you've not done it before, it is designed to be quite straightforward, just getting used to using the equipment, preparing a design and producing a one colour print by the end of the workshop. l also explain the principles of how to make a multi-coloured print, but there isn't enough time to do more than one colour in this workshop. There is also probably enough to take in doing the one colour if it's something you are new to.
My aim is to give people enough to be able to go home and be able to practise and develop their skills from there.
"Really enjoyable day learning to linocut. Very satisfying and lots of lovely prints to go home with. Perfect as gifts to share." Katie Mickleburgh
"Had a lovely relaxing time. Enjoyed the the amount of art we produced & a good start to learning the process! Thank you." Rachel Bobb
"Great introductory course. It is harder than I expected ... but, great course - I've learnt lots & produced two lovely prints." Jane Secker
Basic Drawing Skills Workshop
For those who consider themselves to be beginners, these workshops cover basic drawing materials and techniques to develop drawing skillls. Participants have the opportunity to experiment with different mediums they may not be used to,
such as charcoal or pen & ink, and discover their preferred medium. The overall aim is to give people confidence in taking their drawing skills further.
Materials are included in the cost of the workshop.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and providing us with the tools, pencils, pens, charcoal, rubber and paper was a good idea. I thought the pace was just right and appreciated the size of the group and the teaching skills and approach. I liked the way we built up our knowledge and technique, and starting with the basics, made me feel more confident when it came to trying to draw something. And I was pleased and proud with what I produced. I would recommend it to anybody who was interested in learning the basics which will, hopefully, then give them the confidence to do something else." Lorraine S
"It opened my eyes to the play factor and just trying it out. Built confidence in use of materials. Friendly, informative session." Richard W.
"Very helpful introduction to the materials and basic techniques. Friendly approach and helpful advice. Encouraging and building confidence to try, experiment and just enjoy the experience. Well worth it! " Colin A
Intro to Drypoint Engraving
For those new to printmaking or have never tried Drypoint engraving before, this workshop covers the basic skills you will need to be able to make a dry point engraving.
This workshop is for 6 people.
Materials are provided in the cost of the workshop.
"Fantastic! Loved every minute of it & learnt so much! Will definitely be giving it a go at home as we were shown to print using household items. This is my new favourite thing! " Paula
" Nicole is a lovely teacher, very welcoming and informative. I enjoyed the various processes and Nicole was good at standing back and letting you do things for yourself as many take over! Thankyou for a delightful day." Naomi
"Terrific workshop. Many thanks to Nicole for a very professional, fun, engaging and informative day ! Brilliant. " Natalie
