🎨🌈✨ Welcome to my world! ✨🌈🎨

Art

Art is my creative outlet—a space where I can express myself through words, paint, pastels, and clay. It has been a lifesaver for me, allowing me to pour my feelings into any medium I choose.

I find inspiration in nature—its beauty and simple complexity always fill me with wonder. And I see creativity in numbers too! Maths is another form of expression; after all, there are many ways to arrive at the same answer.

Think about travelling to the Victoria & Albert Museum. You could go by car, bike, public transport, taxi, or even walk. Which would you prefer? Now imagine if one route cost £100 one way (£200 round trip!). Would you choose a different method? The choice is yours.

Maths is just like that. There are different ways to get to an answer, but first, you must explore all the possibilities.

Owning My Narrative

I designed a T-shirt that says ‘Angry Black Woman’. Why? Because I’m owning all my emotions. I refuse to carry the weight of someone else’s discomfort. If you feel uncomfortable when I call out racism, that’s not my burden to bear. I choose joy. I choose light. I choose to dance 💃🏿 because Jesus loves me, and I am blessed to be His child. Hallelujah!

Art, Identity, and Ancestry

As an Afro-Caribbean woman painting for many years, I was surprised to realise, in my late 40s, that I didn’t know how to express my own skin colour on canvas. That realisation sparked a deeper journey—one of self-expression through vibrant colours, journaling on canvas, and creating portraiture that honours my identity and ancestral lineage.

Collaboration & Community

I thrive in collaborative, peer-led, and youth community projects. The challenges and resourcefulness of different environments fuel my creativity.

I’m currently exploring mark-making in ceramics, experimenting with the depth of sgraffito to reveal the raw clay beneath.

Selected Work & Exhibitions

  • Centrepieces: Recovery Through Art (Oct – Dec 2021) & Open Exhibition (Jan 2022) – Ceramics and acrylic work
  • SELMind, Orpington – Indoor wall mural in acrylics, co-created with teacher & mentor Eunice Doe (2019)
  • Grayson’s Art Club, Series 3 – Ceramic piece Tea for Two (Heart of My Heart) featured in a montage on the theme of Love (2021)
  • Redhill Primary School (1951 – 2021) – Outdoor wall mosaic commemorating 70 years, in collaboration with Centrepieces, Bexley (Ongoing)
  • Horizon Lines (Black Artist Collective, Erith) – Sea of Change – An Evolving Installation (2022)
  • St. Paul’s Church, Crofton – Bees on Hexagon Ceramic Tiles (Lead Artist, 2023)
  • Credo, Ambient Support – Exploring & producing ceramics (2011 – Present)

My Work with SEL Mind & Centrepieces CIO

I currently work with SELMind as a:

  • Sessional Art Tutor
  • Peer Support Volunteer Facilitator
  • Lived Experience Consultant

I am also a Valued Volunteer for Centrepieces CIO, which received The King’s Award and MBE Status (2023 – 2024).

What Does Black Excellence Mean to Me?

Black Excellence means being a shining example—full stop. It means always striving to be my best. Sometimes, that means resting, but as long as I’m being authentic, I have no regrets.

In recent years, I’ve found deep comfort, validation, and celebration in seeing Black artists’ work. We’re here. We’re not leaving.

Upcoming Workshops (1st, 2nd, 6th & 7th October)

‘Sea of Change’ – Clay Flower Painting Workshop

Participants paint an air-dry clay flower with acrylics. Each flower begins as part of an evolving installation, first displayed in its raw clay form, then transformed by colour. Stipulation: Artists must collect their flower at the end of the exhibition.

The Art of Mark-Making

A workshop inspired by my art mentor, Willow Winston, exploring abstract mark-making and mindful self-expression. This interactive session encourages group collaboration and reveals insights into how we communicate through art. I currently teach this workshop as a session in SEL Mind.

📌 Follow my journey on Instagram: @nadiahallidayworld

🎥 Video of two art pieces coming soon:

  • Shine Like a Diamond
  • Bright Like an Opal

Maths

Can you have fun with Maths? Yes, you can! Come to my world and you will see just how much fun there is to be had!

I have also devised some games that help people with playing with numbers. I will explain here why I have done them and you can order the games here @HallidayGames.

Art

I have been producing artwork since I was at Secondary School. I can lose myself in art for hours! My main types of media are ceramics and painting currently. I don’t feel I have a particular style and I really enjoy producing the work I do. Even when I don’t like a piece, the journey of producing a piece is the thing 😉.

I have exhibited at the Stables Gallery, Hall Place with Centrepieces in 2020, producing a whole wall of work for the exhibition and have also briefly exhibited at Capital Arts, Eltham.

Please click on this link to go to my Instagram account @NadiaHallidayWorld to see some of my artwork.

Knitting

I’m mad about this too! I have knitted ever since my mum taught me as a little girl. I picked it up very quickly and my mum thinks I knit like a pro!

I have a few videos on YouTube to help you start off with the basics. Please click on the following link for my Intro to Knitting playlist.

There is also another knitting playlist on YouTube to show you how to knit Covid Hearts (pattern courtesy of Amanda Berry). Hearts for COVID-19 playlist.