How turning 50 feels.....

And a first look at my new project for Refugee Women of Bristol

This week I celebrated being alive for half a century. And honestly, lucky lucky me! I genuinely feel excited about what’s next, feel grateful to have good people around me, and couldn’t really give a crap about what gravity is doing to my face and body (I’ve never bothered with Botox, I’ve found exercise I enjoy, and I’m going to grow out my white hair over the next couple of years). I don’t have any goals or plans, I just feel content and happy to keep on keeping on living this creative life.

If you look at my earnings from this year so far you’d probably decide that it isn’t a good year for my business, but it’s not all about finances. What instead I’ve realised is that I really really really really love working with community groups near me in the South West of England, and so far this year I’ve been involved in some great projects. I’m now working out how to pay more of my bills with this work.

Years back when I was a fashion designer for a small supplier, I remember passing the Monsoon building and saying out loud to a friend that my ideal job would be working for them - eventually that happened. Then when I was an illustrator it was Liberty who were my dream client, and that happened too. And now, after hundreds of commissions and live events all over the world, well I know for sure that the best clients are the ones that it feels good to work with.

Which leads me to a new project I’m doing with Refugee Women of Bristol. This small charity has taken down staff photos from their website, in order to ensure their safety and to avoid images being adapted with AI. Instead, I’m illustrating staff members in a way where if you know the people you’ll recognise them in the sketch, but you wouldn’t walk down the street and think ‘oh I know that woman from that illustration’. It celebrates these women, rather than blurring photos of their faces.

The charity has £200 to spend on this project, but for 10 staff illustrations and 1 group artwork this isn’t enough to pay me. So, I’m crowdfunding a fee. I’m less than £300 away from reaching my target so if you’re able to help then the link is here. Funding this project during my birthday week would make me very happy :)

I’m super busy with prep for my exhibition this year. I’m trying to find the balance between keeping it simple and impactful, but also wanting to include lots of people and put on lots of events. I’m a very organised person but know too when I need help, so I think if some well paying client comes in soon then I might be able to hire someone to help me a bit with the admin side. For those that read my yearly money updates you’ll know that I do those by hand writing everything on the back of my recycling, maybe just maybe I need someone who can actually use spread sheets :)

If you are in a comfortable financial situation and feel that you have funds that you could put my way to help me with the work that I do then please get in touch. Go Fund Me works well to help me raise money, but they do take a fee.

In terms of this newsletter, for now all I can promise is that it will be erratic! I will write when I have something to share, rather than commit to anything regular. I really think I am falling out of love with Instagram, and am sharing there more out of necessity these days. So, thanks for signing up to this newsletter and for sticking with me whilst I transition a bit.

In the mean time, please SAVE THE DATE for my exhibition (1-8 September 2026 at Centrespace Gallery Bristol)! I’ll release details of events soon.

Here’s that link again incase you can help fund the Refugee Women of Bristol project.

More soon.

Niki x

Me at my 6th birthday party (my sister was born on my birthday so those two candles in the turret are hers - Happy Birthday again Sarah Groom!)