Niki Phillips Art
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© Nicola Phillips 2024
Niki Phillips
I have been a painter for 35 years having had over 35 exhibitions in Christchurch, Wellington Auckland and the U.S. during that time. I also trained as an art teacher and have taught painting and drawing to adults for the past 25 years. Presently my creative focus is on illustrating and writing children's books.
I have drawn all my life, but since I picked up a paintbrush in 1987 I have never looked back, regularly taking part in group exhibitions as well as my own solo shows. By the end of 1986, I had completed a Diploma in Visual Communication Design at Christchurch Institute of Technology, which put me in very good stead as a future painter as I learnt many invaluable technical skills during my time there.
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I then went on to study full time at the New Zealand Film and Television Training School, also in Christchurch.
I gained a certificate at the end of the year and then moved to Wellington to seek film work and to continue on my painting career. I was receiving continual interest in my painting which gave me the impetus to keep producing new work.
I then moved to Auckland to work on an American movie in the Art Department. I spent a number of years working as a Set Painter and Props and Model Maker, working on both local and international jobs.
Eventually I decided that I wanted to be an art teacher so I attended Manukau Institute of Technology and gained a post graduate Diploma in Teaching as well as a Certificate in Tertiary Teaching. I spent the next 25 years teaching gifted children, then high school students then adults painting and drawing. During this time
I held one or two annual exhibitions of my paintings which amounts to over 35 solo exhibitions to date.
Teaching, Painting & Illustration timeline
Teaching
1987-2023
After graduating from my design course and Teacher's College I have been teaching painting and drawing in person for 25 years across Auckland, Wellington and in the US. I also taught online self designed courses very successfully from New Zealand to India and the US.to New Zealand.
Painting
1987-2023
2024
Crispy the Mouse
After graduating from my design course and Teacher's College I have been teaching painting and drawing in person for 25 years across Auckland, Wellington and in the US. I also taught online self designed courses very successfully from New Zealand to India and the US.to New Zealand.
Although I designed the 'Crispy the Mouse' character in 2014, I recently decided to design more characters in order to write, illustrate and publish children's books. Books will be available to borrow at local libraries and also will be available for purchase (along with prints) from my online shop later this year. I'll also be adding a blog to the 'Crispy the Mouse' page for updates on new illustrations and developmental work.
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Prints of the illustrations are available for purchase, prices are on the 'Crispy the Mouse' page. Please use the 'Contact Me' form to place your order.