Nick Holdsworth - New Collection

Nick’s creative process is both playful and complex, and informs the entire message of each powerful portrait. Once he has chosen an image to work with, he will manipulate it using a pixilation process, this is a technique that requires vigilant control over the placement for each individual pixel (of which there are hundreds for each image). The pixilation is then overlaid with Nick’s chosen repeated icon, often a famous brand logo, which he identifies for its association with the chosen subject. An example of this is his Kate Moss portrait; this was based on a photo shoot she did for Playboy Magazine, so the graphic Nick chose to work with was the playboy bunny. Nick then adjusts the scale of these icons to enhance the definition of the overall subject. Each piece is hand painted using inks and an airbrushing technique, which adds both colour and tone and introduces an original element. This thoroughly modern, cutting edge process contrasts with the nostalgic nature of the images, which Nick says are inspired by the musical legends of his youth, and the hours spent flicking through his mother’s fashion magazines as a child. This unexpected combination imbues the pieces with emotional depth, occasional wit, and a surprisingly vintage style for something so contemporary.