Artist in conversation: Nicola Tremain
“So often we suppress our emotions, art can really heal”
Nicola Tremain is a self-taught British artist producing imagined and real still lives, portraits and abstract paintings driven by the subconscious. While an art practice has been a constant throughout her life, only more recently has she devoted the majority of her time to it. Nicola's talent is not just confined to the canvas. She is also an Emmy-nominated director of documentaries and her work has taken her to some of the world’s most remote and often dangerous environments.
Her pieces evolve spontaneously after a period of automatic painting, and it is often not until long after the painting is complete that the emotion and story behind it becomes clear.
In her artwork, Nicola explores themes of feminine power, a narrative long suppressed after leading and achieving in a male-dominated arena. As a way of relinquishing control, Nicola applies the less forgiving yet more immediate acrylic paint in unconventional ways, embracing happy accidents, unpredictability and finding beauty in imperfection.
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
I’ve painted and drawn all my life, but have only recently devoted the majority of my time to it. I’ve spent the last 20 years directing factual television and documentaries, which is basically visual storytelling with a crew, and a schedule, and a budget. With my art, I’m loving the freedom of the creative process that doesn’t need a whole team of people.
I begin each painting with play to see what comes out of me. Pieces are rarely planned in advance, and this can lead to interesting results. While working from life - the outer world - can be so satisfying, I’ve learnt that drawing on the inner world is much more surprising.
In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?
I realised that working as a TV director saw me operating in a largely masculine way. My art puts me in touch with my feminine energy, which might explain all the flowers that bloom in my paintings. I have a history of perfectionism and I am having fun learning how to relinquish control with my art. Applying paint in unconventional ways brings about such exciting outcomes. The old me would have meticulously corrected any mistakes, but now I let them show, and I see the beauty in that. Art is teaching me a lot of life lessons!
You mention that your artwork arises spontaneously after a period of automatic painting. Could you elaborate on this process? How does it help shape the final piece?
Quite often I smear leftover paint at the end of a day onto a fresh panel or canvas, then I will use that as a starting point - responding to the random placement of colours and forms in a playful way, often applying paint using anything but a brush. Even if it looks terrible for a while, building up layers of paint that peek through later makes for a richer final piece. Sometimes I get lucky with how the paint has smeared on and I can see the beginnings of a painting even at that early stage.
It's fascinating that the emotion and story behind your artwork often become clear long after the painting is complete. Could you share an instance when this happened and the revelation it brought?
I made my largest painting two months into a daily meditation practice. It seemed something had been unlocked because the painting felt familiar and then it struck me…Dali’s “Meditative Rose”…a lone rose floats over a desert-like landscape. A long-buried memory blooming to the surface – it made me realise how mysterious the mind is. So, I named this piece Meditative Roses.
Can you discuss a specific piece or project that challenged you as an artist, and how you overcome those challenges?
The portrait of my late friend Sharanya challenged me the most. I knew I needed to paint her as a way to grieve. Throughout the process I cycled through finding her likeness, then losing her, then finding her again. It was an incredibly emotional experience that I knew I had to go through. So often we suppress our emotions, art can really heal. Now when I look at the painting, I feel such a strong connection to her.
How do you stay connected with other artists and keep up with new developments and trends in the art world?
I am part of a group of artists who have graduated from an online art course. We support and give one another feedback on works in progress, sales, commissions etc. It’s an inspiring and supportive community. I also, of course, use Instagram, I love seeing what other artists are up to. I attend private views and exhibitions regularly. I wouldn’t say I worry about trends; I paint what’s within me, rather than think about what may or may not be received well.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
It is so important to stay true to yourself and your vision and not be swayed by others’ opinions. I’m creating for the joy of it, if it resonates then that’s wonderful, but not everyone gets my flower obsession. That being said, feedback on how to lift a painting to the next level in the final stages is incredibly helpful. A fresh set of eyes and a tweak that might take minutes can transform a piece.
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
I get in the studio, smoosh some paint around for five minutes and see what happens. If nothing sparks, I’ll leave it, because this isn’t the 9-5 (thank goodness) and there’s no point forcing it. Those periods of rest can be more fruitful than you realise; the brain is always making connections. You have to get out in the world and do things that bring you alive so that it can feed into your work. This is why I continue to work in TV – the adventures I have push me out of my comfort zone and help me grow as a human.
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
I am thrilled to be showing my art, this is my first exhibition in a very long time, I’m looking forward to meeting the other artists, and connecting with people over art.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
I’m excited to see how my practice evolves, I have lots of ideas bubbling. I would love to exhibit more, get representation, and find those who resonate with my work. I don’t have a set plan; I will see how things unfold. Now I’m connecting to my feminine side, I realise I don’t need to try and control everything!