Illustrator Nicola Metcalfe
Marlow mum and international graphic artist Nicola Metcalfe is making a living
out of her life-long passion of illustrating. Her work is a vibrant mix of colour
and vitality. This week, you can meet her and see her work at the Perch Coffee Shop, 7.30pm–9.30pm on Friday 11th May for a veritable bonanza of art, shopping, refreshment and bonhomie in the heart of Marlow…
Nicola says she was drawn by the debate on what it is to be British in 2016. 'Up until now, my work has tried to capture a sense of place in different towns and cities. I thought it was time to go national and investigate what make us who we are,' she says.
The latest work – envisaged as a large stand-alone piece of art for domestic spaces is a collection of images tagged to more than 200 different locations. The range is wide and the piece is constantly evolving. Leicester, for example, was shown as a “Long Stay Car Park” sign with the crest of Richard III – a nod to last year’s discovery of the Yorkist King. But this has been joined in the current version by a fox, marking Leicester City’s surprise entry into sporting history as Premier League Champions.
'It’s common to try to show places as grand buildings or famous people,' says Nicola, 'but I don’t believe that’s how we see ourselves. A sense of where we’re from is partly local pride, for sure, but it’s also local jokes and shared experiences. We’re fantastically diverse for one small island.'
Nicola is a mum of two children and two chickens, and lives in Marlow Bottom. Illustrating has
been her life-long passion – working mainly in the digital realm, she loves adding a contemporary twist to familiar architectural landmarks. Through her illustrations, Nicola likes to celebrate what it
is to be British by capturing the eccentricity that symbolises aspects of Britain today. She also likes to employ loose, freehand illustration as a means to comment on events in every day life. 'I have had no formal training – I just love drawing!' she tells me. 'I get my ideas from the environment, friends and family. And Quentin Blake is my hero!'
Nicola has been working on the idea of place or locality for the past four years, creating a body of work that can be found from the Tate to John Lewis – not to mention a web presence in the United States and Australia. And it’s spreading from formal graphic art to fabrics and china.
'I like the idea of my designs spreading from the wall or gallery to everyday items,' she says. 'It produces interesting commissions. I’ve done work for the Leander Rowing Club and a whole series of large scale works on glass for a commercial film maker near Oxford.
Her illustration of Marlow, right, is so eye-catching. And every time I look at it I spot something new.
'I love many aspects of Marlow,' Nicola tells me. 'Burgers (where I used to be a washer-upper), the library, the trees in the High Street (which always used to flower on my birthday but with global warming it has all gone a bit awry), the bridge and church, obviously!'
Nicola used to attend Spinfield School before she moved on to Lady Verney High School in High Wycombe. Nicola was a Vulcan Venture Scout, and a singer in a Marlow/Wycombe-based rock band, and has also been a stalwart of Chiltern Shakespeare Company in Beaconsfield over the past 11 years, particularly relishing the more comedic roles!
Nicola has recently launched a Royal Wedding collection… ​Celebrate the happy couple with these specially commissioned Royal Wedding mugs, tea towels and coasters! Featuring the wedding coach passing St. George's Chapel, an abundance of hats and a cheeky corgi the coasters are just too pretty to hide under a cup! Toast Harry and Meghan with the marvellous mug featuring a jolly Windsor scene complete with Queen Victoria scattering confetti and a waving police officer. And the kitchen chores will become a truly uplifting experience with the tea towel, presented tied with a pretty ribbon and featuring a profusion of jaunty hats.
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Go along and say hello to Nicola at The Perch on Friday night, and discover unique framed prints, paintings and homewares, some of them with a local vibe, some with more than a nod to Harry and Meghan!
Nicola is very willing to undertake commissions. To discuss a commission or purchase prints or cards, please contact her through her website, www.nicolametcalfe.com
Also see www.visittheperch.co.uk
