Nichola Ahlers

"I was born and raised under the beautiful and majestic Mt Taranaki.

I moved to the Waikato to study Psychology (after great debate on whether I should be following the Arts). After graduating I spent two years travelling the world, then on my return to New Zealand decided to settle in the Waikato again.

It was here I met my lovely husband and moved to beautiful Te Pahu to live under another beautiful, although much smaller mountain, Pirongia.

We live on a small dairy farm and have two amazingly gorgeous children.

I am a self-taught artist, I enjoyed art in high school but didn't find my passion for art until 2014 after a running injury required me to rest up (not an easy task for me to sit still for any length of time!). So painting, and then a finding of coloured pencils has kept me busy (and sitting!!) since then.

I have written and illustrated a self-published children's book and am looking forward to completing my next one."

I have a passion for drawing native New Zealand species and have been told by Maori Kaumatua my inspiration has been gifted to me from the Patupaiarere (or fairies) of Mt Pirongia.

My love of art is now consuming any free time I can find. I feel very privileged to have found "work" in something I love."