Nicola Hallman I am Nicola Hallman, an artist based in a beautiful coastal village near the Devon and Cornwall border, with my husband and three children. After starting a family I realised that I needed to free myself from the 9 to 5, so I launched a small business in 2012 handpainting and dyeing yarns and fibres, and crafting ergonomic crochet hooks from a small garden studio. I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember, copying cartoon figures as a child, and then experimenting with different mediums and techniques at secondary school many, many moons ago! Throughout the following years, when time allowed, I continued to create occasional pieces, until more recently when I was struck by my love of painting again with a collection of super vibrant and colourful watercolour jellyfish. I started painting and selling under the name of ‘Lemon Coral Quay’ and managed to incorporate this into my already successful business, producing pieces in oils, watercolours, inks and acrylic paints. Colour is always a leading feature in my work, with a love and fascination for the bright and bold, and a lure to colour combination, theory and mixing. During the recent pandemic painting became my therapy, and almost every evening I would settle in front of my easel and find my happy place! It was during this time that I started to paint the female form, embracing the curves and contours, shapes and tones of everyday beautiful women. I became involved in promoting body positivity, normalising and inclusivity of everyone. I have completed numerous commissions which have helped women on their journey to self love and acceptance, and hope to continue to do so. Inspired by my fortunate proximity to the ocean I have also recently started a collection of abstract and colourful seascapes.