About Nicole

• Nicole Porter is a Scottish artist specialising in realistic oil painting and portraiture. Her practice encompasses portraiture, still life, landscape and drawing, combining traditional techniques with a considered approach to observation, composition and the character of her subjects.

  She graduated with First Class Honours in Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, before continuing her studies with internationally recognised artists Odd Nerdrum in Norway and Paris, and Steven Assael in New York. She later completed an MFA with Distinction in Contextualised Practice at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen.

  A significant milestone in Nicole’s career was painting a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which became part of the Royal Collection. Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to representational painting, with careful attention to light, form, texture and detail. Through her paintings, she seeks to capture not only the appearance of a subject, but also its individual character and presence.

  Alongside her independent artistic practice, Nicole has over 15 years of experience teaching drawing and painting. She is a part-time Engage Tutor at Gray’s School of Art, sharing her knowledge of traditional techniques and encouraging others to develop their own artistic practice. Her work in art education has also been recognised through a Gold Award from the International Alliance of Young Artists.

  Working from her studios in Aberdeen and Inverurie, Nicole continues to develop her practice across a range of subjects and projects, balancing commissioned work with her own artistic interests.