Above a sunset rendering of Autumn folliage 
The artist used acrylic paint which she has slid across the canvas in successive veils of dilute colour and where the paint is thicker, she has scratched with a flexible palette knife and used the edge of card dipped in paint for fine lines.
An exciting and exprimental process echoing nature's own constructive and destructive ongoing process.

Above is a portrayal of nature's undergrowth and overgrowth using batik in a loose and expressive way allowing the translucent dyes to find their own direction and blending. It is such an exciting way to work.

Through oil painting I love to express the wonder of the changing face of nature in the places I visit, those locally that I love and am familiar with, and special places  visited on holidays. It is the way light at different times of day, different seasons creates a whole new beauty, ever changing and evanescent , that I try to capture. I have abandoned the brush in favor of 'mark making tools' created out of kitchen spatulars, cut up credit cards, old tooth brushes and anything that provides the required mark.

Batik provides a way of working that allows my imagination free reign within the landscape of my mind. These artworks inspired by nature are both highly personal and yet I consider them also to come from those universal themes that touch all of us in some way.

Following those strange Covid Years I have had the good fortune to to spend much time in creativity in my studio. This has resulted in a return to using Acrylic paint in new experimental ways and much experimentation with Batik painting. I have also enjoyed a return to drawing, some of which feature on the third page. The intricate nature of these drawings I feel reflect my inner thoughts and feelings through this strange and difficult time on the world stage.
I have become passionate about the plight of the planet and now class myself as a #climatechangeartist.

       Above: Nina is currently participating in the project 'Trunks across the Thames'. Her design was chosen alongside 29 other artists out of 300 submissions to raise funds for the Windsor Thames Hospice. The designs to be painted onto 5ft high Elephant sculptures are currently secret until the 'Herd' is unveiled across Windsor and Slough on the 12th July. It will remain to be viewed by the public across the Summer and then each Elephant will be auctioned in October.
​watch for updates on Nina's Instagram account:  nina.oconnell.3726     and  @trunksacrossthethames.

Below an acrylic painting inspired by the artist's local landscape in Berkshire. Late, low golden  sunlight shining through irradiating the foliage with light.

                                                                                        Below: another rendering of 'The Lane'

Above a local back lane that I walk with my dogs most mornings. Lush Summertime and shadows.
​ Much of the mark making using a small flexible cake spatular, one of my favourite tools for moving and scrating into acrylic paint.

Below a rendering of the glorious early morning winter light on frosty grass and bare scracthy treeline. Walking the dogs this particular morning just made my heart sing!