ABOUT THE

Artist

Hello.

I’m Nicole, but I mostly go by Nikki.

I am a professional freelance illustrator and designer, specializing in visually rich storytelling for authors and publishers, primarily working with indie authors who care deeply about both storytelling and presentation. I am located in the United States, more specifically the NYC metropolitan area. My background is in fine art and fashion illustration, which trained me to capture mood, movement, and personality in every line and color choice - skills I now bring to book covers, character art, and author branding - including logos and visual identities - crafted to feel intentional, expressive, and enduring.

My aesthetic lives at the intersection of sophisticated, whimsical, and modern, although I am not bound to a single look. I work fluently across styles and mediums, from fine art and traditional illustration to digital drawing, painting, and graphic design. Whether a project calls for romance and softness, bold contemporary graphics, or intricate illustrative detail, I shape the visual language to tell your story and resonate with readers.

I believe great book design does more than look beautiful - it communicates tone, genre, and emotion at a glance. I collaborate closely with authors to translate their worlds, characters, and themes into artwork that feels both authentic and market-aware, with an eye towards longevity and professional polish. My goal is always the same: to create artwork that captures the heart of a book while helping it stand out beautifully in the market, work which you will be proud to share and will grow with your career.

I honed my skills while a fine arts major at The Pennsylvania State University where I concentrated on painting and drawing, with an emphasis on digital illustration and graphic design. Upon graduation, I was signed by a creative agency that specialized in packaging and product design. I also worked in the greater New York City area as a design assistant in a prestigious kitchen and bathroom design company where I learned about drafting and rendering. I then went on to graduate school and earned a Master’s degree in education with an interest in curriculum, STEAM, and arts integration. I hold certifications in elementary ed and art ed, as well as a supervisory certification. I now have over a decade of experience working with children in the education field.

My love for travel, my mixed cultural heritage, experience in education, and my appreciation of fine arts has helped mold my creative perspective and love for what I do. If you have any great projects (book covers or otherwise) feel free to email me. Or, if you would like to just say hi then I would also love to hear from you!