About Nicola Burton
Nicola Burton is a mixed media artist using eggshells as reclaimed canvases for her vibrant, ethical art. She offers unique affordable gift pieces starting at £49, and welcomes bespoke commission enquiries for perfectly personalised gifts.
Nicola uses the eggshells laid by her free-ranging chickens at home in Essex. Her creative practice starts with hatching, rearing, and rescuing chickens. Nicola collects the eggs from the coop each morning, gently shapes them by hand, and intricately paints them using a kaleidoscope of colour palettes and mixed media techniques.
Nicola’s work with eggshells began as self-care when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Finding a vital, restorative connection with nature through tending to her chicken flock, she began to recycle their eggshells to explore her thoughts on living with a mental health condition.
Nicola’s work examines the intricate balance between strength and fragility, and the eggshells she works with represent the delicate equilibrium she seeks in her own life. Nicola invites us to reflect upon the powerful transformations which arise from our broken places. Bringing eggshells inside to light up our indoor lives gives them a beautiful permanence, serving as a daily coloursplashed reminder that perceived imperfections can be the most wonderful strengths.Embracing a simpler way of life, Nicola seeks to collaborate ethically and sustainably with our natural world – and her work with eggshells explores a narrative in which humans and nature can heal each other.