Swinging with the old stars

Living life in a flurry of painting and peroxide, a mystery sits at the heart of this artist. Her name is Lola Nicol and with her nest of blonde hair tied neatly in a bandana, she introduces her debut collection ‘Swinging with the old stars’.

The interesting introduction is an eclectic collection of impeccable portraits. Featuring Hollywood greats from Marylyn Munroe to Jim Morrison, Lola has created fashionable pieces that ooze personal style.

“I am fascinated by facial expression and emotion," she said. "‘Swinging with the old stars’ revolves around the innocence and humanity of my subjects in an otherwise cold and cut-throat industry. I can’t decide if this has surfaced due to the emotions I myself have experienced, or if I feel an affinity with my subjects. Either way, my paintings show my darker side.”

Brought up in a small village in Bathgate known as Torphichen, Lola studied Advanced Higher Art at Bathgate Academy. “I was pushed in the direction of art college to study fashion and textiles after school but I was painfully shy growing up and didn’t have that much confidence in myself and my work.

“This is probably why I opted out and got myself a full-time office job and moved to Glasgow as opposed to going through the motions of meeting new people and the possible disappointment if things didn’t quite go the way I would have hoped.”

Upping sticks at the start of the summer, Lola ventured from the vibrant city of Glasgow to an idyllic croft by the beach in the Highlands. Immersed in family and with her prized ponies by her side, Lola felt ready to pick up her paint brushes again, creating a makeshift studio in which the collection was to be born. The tranquillity and often loneliness that comes with such a remote location provides the perfect inspiration for Lola and her art.

“I am inspired every day by the views of the sea from my bedroom and the simple way of living up here. I can be inspired by the feelings of guilt and regret for leaving my friends in Glasgow and I am definitely inspired by the longing to have them with me.

"The comfort of having my family around me is also an inspiration. Music plays a massive part in what I do and has a huge influence on my debut collection.”
Lola’s signature style is her rustic choice of materials.

She uses wood canvases and acrylics that, fascinatingly, wasn’t a deliberate decision. “When I started my first piece I realised I had left the majority of my materials in Glasgow and had to source a canvas from the croft. Luckily, I found a pile of old school desktops, complete with graffiti.

“Wood has now become the signature of my pieces. I love painting on varnished wood. The paint is free to move on the smooth surface and by using acrylics I can paint and re-paint only adding texture to the finished piece.”

And the artist’s contact book is filling up nicely after a portrait she created of fashion icon, Lana Del Rey, was hailed as fabulous. “Lana Del Rey is the epitome of beauty," she said. "I fell in love with her voice and her style. I just had to paint her. She is my fashion icon and my biggest achievement to date is her giving my painting the sign of approval.”

But when it comes to selling her work, Lola admits the heightened interest often comes as bittersweet.
“I do feel sad when some of my pieces sell as I would love to keep them but I also feel honoured that someone would want to own a piece of work that I have created.”