...and we're all dealing with it in our own ways. I'll update soon; job searching is cutting into creativity, which is something I never wanted to admit to.


One day soon it'll be back alive.

Just a quick welcome to the new nicksfault.com, folks! Over the next couple of days I'll be uploading new artwork and tweaking the site here and there, so bear with me. But, soon enough, it'll be up and running. Thanks for your patience!


Oh, and don't forget, there'll be a shop soon enough...


Keep your eyes open!

Sorry my dears, just a quicky;

I'm bumping back the date for the re-opening of my shiny NEW site to NEXT Monday, the 19th, as I was away in Paris until Sunday and realised I couldn't build a new website in a day.

Lots of love!

Apologies! Apologies! All I ever offer are apologies!


Fact is, folks, I'm planning a nice refurbishment - The site is nearly two years old now and I've not been using it effectively at all. SO, here's my promise for a better web experience and service:


On Monday the 12th of July, my site will open anew as the refurbished nicksfault.com - I am adding a shop, selling small items, prints of my work and more as time goes on. I will also be updating the news column every week at least once, hopefully much more frequently. The portfolio will have new artwork added to it at least once a week, every week of the year. Finally, I will add a mailing list option to the site, to keep those of you who are interested up to speed with what's going on with my work, the shop and the world, just in case you haven't been paying attention yourself...


Here's to a new start, my friends! I will see you all on the other side...

Sky News just announced, on the night of the election debate, that there's been a new site created called "It's Nick's Fault". I just googled it and my site came up as the third result. Score!

Well folks, I feel as though I owe you an apology.


I promised so much work for this year and, as yet, you've seen none of it. This is partly excusable - I've been in the process of moving house and am now camped in a flat of my very own. Though exciting, it has meant that the chance to sit and work on my art has been less frequent. Still, excuses, excuses...

I'm taking this opportunity to tell you about a new project which, unlike the others I've eluded to in the past year, has actually started and is a real thing.
I'm starting a series of MANDALAS - For those of you who don't know, which I imagine is the overwhelming majority, "mandala" is the Sanskrit word for "circle". Mandalas are used as a symbol of harmony and wholeness in various Eastern Religions - I came across them during my third year, whilst researching for my dissertation.
I've decided to put a Western spin on the Eastern aesthetic by creating mandala form artwork with themes from day-to-day life in the western world. I'm going to add a sample of my first creation to the portfolio gallery which should give you an idea, the theme, of course, being a good old cup of tea.

Throughout the course of the project, I'll update you on the newest theme I'm approaching, then, after I've produced exactly 15 complete mandalas, I plan on unveiling them as prints for sale on this very website! So, keep your eyes peeled and, if you like what you see, keep checking back for the opening of my online store...

See you soon!

Well, folks; Happy New Year etc.


The Twenty-Teens are going to empty a lot of pressure on my shoulders; They cover a period of my life in which, traditionally, a large amount of stuff is supposed to happen. In 10 years i'll be 31 and, during the in-between, I have set myself target upon target.


Aside from all the stuff you don't particularly need or care to know about, like relationships and travel and mortgages and the like, there are numerous creative projects already on the go which will come to fruition in the Teens:

-The album I'm working on with the band, neither of which I will name just yet, and all of the artwork that will accompany that
-Extended numbers of designs for Featured Printworks
-A series of one-off original ink images, to be sold/exhibited from this site
-The first in my series of Journal Books
-A collection of SCROLL BOOKS

And that's just this year, hopefully.

I'm hoping that my new approach to time is going to help all of this come to pass. I'm bored of trying to cram everything into a day with the promise that i'll give myself some time off tomorrow. I'm trying to see days as just more time. I only get one life, so why count it down with a calendar full of rigorously scheduled objectives? I'll work hard and hopefully reap the benefits, but i'm not going to give myself too many projected outcomes or anything. I just want to ENJOY being a creative person in a world that doesn't really like to give money to creative people.

Fingers crossed, eh?

So, as work is a bit thin at the moment, I have to keep creative.


I attempt to do this in various way. Illustratively, I'm entering lots of competitions, so that I'm still working to briefs and keeping my thought process alive with a variety of challenges, Plus, some of the prizes are cash, which is always useful, particularly because winnings cant be taxed! Look out for failed entries in the coming months, covering all sorts, from Christmas cards to car vinyls...


Also, I spend money. You can't really help that though, can you? I pay for haircuts, coffee, trips, shoes and cd's, all without earning enough to actually justify the spending. It's unavoidable madness, because if I didn't do those things, I'd be in the house all the time, and then no amount of money would save mmy mind from tumbling into the abyss.


The consumtion of tea seems to go up too, but that's not necessarily a bad thing now, is it?


Right, on with another contest... Poster for Europe Day 2010? Sounds like a blast...

It seems worryingly similar to the last time I wrote to you, my situation... Work is still relatively scarce, but that by no means suggests that it isn't there! I'm currently finishing up a few images for an Eating Disorder project, fronted by ITV, which hopefully will be used on a show they're filming this week called "Fixers". Also, constant work goes into tee-shirt designs, song-writing and also my book idea.

So, because of the somewhat scattered nature of my projects, I'm setting myself a few targets. By Christmas, I hope to have some extended works to show you, including:

- A prototype page for my first book
- A finalised tee-shirt, for sale
- 3 images from the Eating Disorders project
- Some artwork to accompany the music I'm writing

Scary stuff, eh? Still, no-one ever got anything done by projecting ideas, only by undertaking them. So, I'm off!

Here we are again then, readers;

Just a few quick updates for you - Firstly, I have already abandoned the "Residents of Leviathan Lane" idea; in practice, it was not a task I could enjoy. I have gathered numerous projects since then, however. I am continuing work with CHUMS and also my good friend Tom Hornby, whose website should be viewed here.

On top of those, I am constantly developing my own music into an album, the title of which I will begin to band around when things start to happen, like the formation of a group of musicians and some better quallity recording. Also I am starting a series of books, the content of which I will keep relatively under-wraps for the time being. Suffice to say they will be a long time in the making and, hopefully, a real illustrative treat.

More news to follow soon!

Folks, I come with news of developments;

There are man things you should know. First and foremost, I am currently part of a tee-shirt designing contest, which is voted on by YOU. members of the general public. My design is here; if you click and press the big "love it" heart, it'll ask you to register an account, which takes all of 20 seconds, even less if you log in using FACEBOOK. Then, click the heart again an your vote will be registered! You know, if you find the time...

Secondly, I am back underway with the good people at CHUMS; work is happening. More on that as it unfolds.

Also, I have 2 new projjects of my own underway. The first is a set of t-shirt designs for a friend of mine in the north with some printing equipment at his fingertips. The second is a MINI-BOOK, called "The Residents of  Leviathan Lane", which takes a look at the lives of the 20 residents of a street inhabited by giants. Fun, eh? What's more, once the artwork is done aand popped into book format, the original, poster-sized images will go up for sale on this very site! Stay tuned for project progress...

Adieu, loves!

So here we are folks, still trudging along; The work at the school is great fun and great experience to boot, but I'm still working hard to look for a bit of illustration work. So, my efforts are taking to the following forms:

I'm entering some competitions, most interestingly a t-shirt contract contest; If the design catches on, there's window for more... I'm also about the embark on a set of 20 one-off's. They'll be large-poster sized ink drawings and I'm going to put the lot up for sale on this very website! So, keep your eyes peeled and tell your friends; you might find a perfect Christmas present in amongst the mass?

On the subject of a shop, I'm working on some ideas for a batch of products to put up for sale which are less-one off, to see how they go down and whether you all would like more of the same. So, if you can't stretch to an original artwork, maybe they'll be right up your alley!

Now, though, I must continue listening to my vinyls and drawing this t-shirt design. Check out my portfolio for a new image of a man with incredibly long arms.

Good bye!

Okay folks, I need your help this time around.


I'm thinking of developing an on-line shop for this site, to draw some attention and also some funds. Question is, do any of you have any ideas of what might sell? Is there something you're burning to buy from an illustrator? Stickers perhaps, or maybe mini-zines? I'll go away and come up with some produceable ideas, but if you think of any in the meantime, peaase go to my CONTACT page and get in touch!


Thanks, folks!

I've just come to the end of my first full day of teaching - It hurt my mind, concentrating that much on lesson plans and class objectives... I forgot that, in order to convey art to a willing listener, the freedom of the subject has to be compromised for the teacher. I hadn't realised how hard it is to inspire a sense of interest in self-expression!

Still, we soldier on. I have 3 really interesting groups of students with a collection of great attitudes towards the work; I suppose time will have to reveal whether or not it's destined to work.


For now, I need to conjure up another visual venture - The Philosophers have been done and sent off since we last spoke.

Onward, then...

Summer has come to it's inexorable end.


I'm still in a pretty tough position - There is work around, but not floods of the stuff. Expect to hear more from me about my part-time job at Manshead Upper School and also some work on a publication from a group called "CHUMS". Otherwise, it's still a case of struggling through the free time, looking for work and developing ideas. I'm currently drawing a load of caricatures of famous scholars and philosophers, with the idea of developing an accessible education series for A-level philosophy students. I'm also working on some canvases with a view to selling them.


In the mean time, does anyone have any ideas for downloadable or buyable products that I can display on the site? I have a few ideas, but i'd love to hear from you all - Perhaps you crave a colouring in sheet, or some stickers and badges? Maybe personalised posters are your thing? Whatever the idea, give me a shout on the CONTACT page and i'll endeavour to do my best!


Also, you'll notice a change to the portfolio; it's all in one gallery! This was to stop it seeming so seperated. My work is one body and ought to be seen that way, no?


Comments are welcome!

Well folks - I am now a self-employed man, in charge of my destiny and a servant to the tax-man. Jubilation! I'm working on bits and pieces here and there, a few "shoodles" commissions and some propositions from some friends of friends, but nothing steady as yet. No-one's employing in Dunstable because it's a shell of a town now - Employers are at a stalemate with recruiting agencies who have swamps of people to send out to work but no jobs to send them to.

It's a difficult time, folks, it truly is. So, I suppose i'd better keep my head down and keep drawing. I'm thinking of pulling together a few musical compositions on my lonesome too - More news as that idea develops.


Stay good...

So the private viewing of the show went well; It stays up for one more week, open to the public, and I would quite like it if there was some interest in my work born from the week.

I suppose the reason for that is because I'd quite like some vindication for the last 3 years of work. As a whole, university hast been a spectacular experience, save the people on my course who have encouraged me in my artistic development enough to keep me there. I want to grow as an illustrator to say thank you to all of them, really. I know it's going to be a terribly hard slog, but I'm willing to knuckle down if it means I can justify the effort they put in to keeping me going.

Thank you to all of you who have helped me through university - let's get on with this "life" business then, shall we?

Well, that was a feeble attempt at a weekly regime of updating, wasn't it?

The tragic thing is I've really not had the time to sit down and concentrate on writing to you all. However, in 4 days time, I will have set up my graduate illustration show and will not be allowed to amend it, which counts as pretty significant news, which is why i've found the time to get on here.

I've made some changes to the site in anticipation of the show - Aesthetic changes to it's overall appearance are the key things; I've also had suggestions about setting up some sort of forum or guestbook, which may come to fruition after the show.
More work will be going up in the next few days (extracts from my third year book), just as long as I can find the time to sit down and do it before 4pm on friday!

Keep your eyes open, stay happy and think of me - It's a terribly challenging task, you know.

It's a glorious, sunny Saturday morning and I have many things to bring you up to speed with.


First and foremost is the announcement that I am planning weekly updates to this news page from today onwards, so more questions can be answered, more views expressed and more plans expressed.


The last time I posted, I was talking about the horrific experience of writing a dissertation. Now, however, that dissertation has been finished, handed in, marked and returned, and I'm happy to inform you that I achieved a highly unexpected 1st and will complain no more!


The self-directed unit is progressing well; I have completed an entire books worth of illustrations based on my narrative and, once I have had the chance to experiment with scanning, colouration and typography, I will put up a gallery of the work produced during this years project.

SO, there's plenty happening and plenty to be getting on with - Have a look at the new works added to the Personal Pieces and University Work galleries in the Portfolio section and get in touch if you're interested in collaborating on any jobs!

'Til our next meeting.

I cannot enjoy this preposterous essay.

I am not the first or last to suffer the problems of having this work looming over their life. It's stopping me seeing people, stopping me doing the work I want to do and stopping me allowing myself to relax.
The problem is, I don't know how to get it done.

Everyone will tell me that it's just a case of getting my head own and knocking it out. Thing is, I loathe sitting in front of a computer for more than an hour. It still happens, nearly every day, but I cannot spend that much time typing. I suppose I need to be in the mood.

This is going nowhere as a statement, but I thought I'd justify my lack of appearance in and around the studio of late. I'll be back, once I've killed this thing off.

Heaven help me.

There is no doubt in my mind that if you're reading this, you're well aware that Barack Obama is the new President Elect of the United States of America. If my assumption has offended any hermits or recluses, I apologise. Let's be honest with ourselves though - This is kind of massive...

I like Obama. I like him for various reasons - He represents a changed consciousness in the American public, he is an honourable family man and he has some fresh ideas to bring onto the world stage. Most importantly, however, he's brilliant fun to draw.

For four years, we have some fantastically defined features to work with as illustrators - A grin bigger than the lenses of the cameras pointing his direction, a stern, low brow and the classic politicians curse of... ahem... obvious ears. Don't let this come across as me having a dig at Obama, it's anything but. I'm really chuffed that such a unique character has been given this new position of responsibility. All i'm saying is that, while he's in office, those of us who get paid to draw folks like The President are going to have good fun portraying the man from Chicago.


There's already one drawing of Obama on this website, in amongst my University work from the second year, a real simple caricature of him and Hillary Clinton "battling" for the bible belt in the Democratic election. You should expect some more images of the new leader of the free world soon enough though.

I can't wait for the world to change - it's going to inspire some memorable faces, anyway...