Nicole Onslow

Melbourne born, I graduated with a BA in Fashion Design from RMIT but before I could become a designer, I was commissioned to create a piece for the press release for fashion designer Alannah Hill, and so my career as an illustrator began.

After building a solid foundation of work nationally, I moved to London, securing representation there, in Paris and the US, which saw my work expand across editorial, advertising, publishing and packaging.

I employ the traditional fine art practices of painting and drawing in my work, exuding elegance and femininity in watercolour & ink and more gestural work with gouche and acrylic. My digital work produces a bolder, more confident style and it’s this adaptability that has seen me develop a portfolio as varied as my clients.  

My work has graced the pages of local and international fashion magazines, on the covers of best-selling novels such as Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada and within high-end residential and retail spaces in Melbourne.

My background in fashion design, and my illustration career collided some years ago, seeing me regularly collaborate with clothing labels, creating beautiful bespoke prints for their collections. In turn, this has broadened my portfolio to wallpapers and other soft furnishings, paving the way for designing my first full interior retail space in 2019.

My commercial client list includes Gucci, NGV, Montblanc, Virgin Music, White Room Paris, Tatler, Marie Claire, David Jones, Melbourne Fashion Week, Alannah Hill, Review, Just Jeans, The Kirketon Hotel and The Australian Magazine, Holism Retreat at Hotel Chadstone, among many others.

On behalf of The National Gallery of Victoria, I have run fashion illustration workshops, sharing my knowledge, learned techniques and love of the industry to aspiring newcomers. I am also regularly engaged for live fashion illustration to capture special guests at exclusive events of some of the most covetable luxury brands.