CV | EXPERIENCE

2014 - 2025

FREELANCE ARTIST / GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Nicola Macmillan is an experienced illustrator and freelance graphic designer working from her home studio. With over 20 years of professional experience in the design industry, Nicola creates vibrant and contemporary artwork, including hand drawn illustrations, logos, marketing materials, album/DVD cover designs, and digital art prints. Using tools like Procreate on her iPad Pro, and Adobe Suite programs such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, After-effects and Premiere Pro on her Mac, she has developed a unique, dynamic style that speaks to a variety of audiences.

Since the lockdown, Nicola has focused more on her artistic side, pouring energy into creating and selling both painted and digital art. Her goal is to design unique, vibrant wall art that enhances interiors and sparks creativity. You can view her artwork on her Instagram page: @nickymac.vision, and her design work at @nicmacdesigns.

2010 - 2013

GRAPHIC / MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER - STHREE RECRUITMENT

Nicola was the sole graphic designer responsible for all Internal Communication design work at the head office of a global, multi-national recruitment company. This company recruits for high-end jobs worldwide and operates across 51 offices in 12 countries, with four differently branded divisions.

She handled a wide range of design tasks, including creating internal newsletters, email templates, posters, conference materials, exhibition stands, and PowerPoint templates.

In addition to these projects, Nicola contributed creative concepts, straplines, and logo designs for various internal programs. She also designed full suites of printed materials, including brochures and posters, as well as intranet graphics and email blasts.

One of her key achievements was playing a pivotal role in designing a new identity branding campaign to promote SThree's company values globally. This branding was rolled out across all platforms, including intranet graphics, a flash video, printed brochures, and large-scale pieces of artwork displayed on office walls.

2008 - 2010

MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER - NATMAG RODALE, RUNNER’S WORLD MAGAZINE

Nicola redesigned the menu bar navigation, icons, colour palette, fonts, and headers for the Runner’s World (www.runnersworld.co.uk) and Triathlete’s World (www.triathletesworld.co.uk) websites.

She worked closely with the advertising and sales teams to produce a full range of cross-platform, interactive assets. These included printed magazine pages, web advertorials, campaign email blasts, MPUs, skyscrapers, and banners for client marketing campaigns, using tools such as Photoshop, HTML, CSS, Flash, and video clips.

Nicola liaised with corporate clients and charities, including Lucozade Sport, Nike, Garmin, Saab, Timex, Men’s Health Magazine, Harrods, Macmillan, Marie Curie, and Cancer Research UK (CRUK), to deliver design work that met their needs and expectations.

She designed projects from concept to completion and maintained the race partner websites, including www.hellrunner.co.uk and their in house online promo micro-site.

Nicola also built interactive route maps using Flash for the London Marathon website and created media packs for Runner’s World, Triathlete’s World, and the Fetch Everyone websites.

In addition, she designed both online and printed invitations for the Heroes of Running annual awards event.

2005 - 2008

FREELANCE WEB / GRAPHIC DESIGN WORK

Success Story: Website design for a storyteller and teacher, David Bash: www.successstory.org.uk using HTML and CSS.
Worthwhile TV: DVD covers, logos, web layouts and leaflet design.

Key4: Luxury property sales and marketing magazine design and artwork. 

Veridium Construction Company: Rebranded the company logo, designed their business cards and company brochure. She also built their content-managed, Flash website: www.veridium.co.uk.

Big Picture Entertainment: A music media company. She designed their company logo, business cards and various DVD covers including one for musician, Pete Doherty’s documentary. 

Maria Bonet: designed and created: www.mariabonet.com and the website for a bridal hair and makeup company.

NOT FOR PROFIT AND VOLUNTARY WORK

2007: Curated a 2 month Textile Mural project for The Atlee Youth and Community Centre in Shorditch. In 1982 the Attlee Foundation pioneered the first inclusive adventure playground in Tower Hamlets for children of all abilities. The vision, realised in 2006, was for a purpose-built community centre directly serving families, especially younger children, girls and women and young people to establish long term relationships with them and to provide access to services from trusted sources.

2007: Designed and painted a large backdrop mural for a play at Akiva Jewish Primary School in North London.


2004: Two week placement working on brochure design at Glazier Design Agency.
 A creative agency in London specialising in creative ideas, brand creation, graphic design and digital design.

2000-2001: Receptionist/admin work at Project Ability Arts Centre A gallery studio and space for adults with learning difficulties, Glasgow, Scotland. 
Project Ability creates opportunities through inclusive art for all. Supporting, celebrating and platforming diversity within the contemporary visual arts sector providing a welcoming arts community for people with learning disabilities and mental ill-health. Providing the space and expertise to allow them to express themselves, build confidence and achieve their potential.

1999-2000: Textile workshop leader and co-worker living at Delrow Camphill Community for Adults with learning difficulties and mental health problems, in Aldenham, Nr Watford. They support adults with various learning disabilities, mental health support needs and autism. A fully comprehensive support package includes the choice of activities in our workshops where skills are developed, and friendships forged. 

EDUCATION

1995 - 1998

GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART - BA (HONS) TEXTILE DESIGN DEGREE

2007

WEB DESIGN / HTML COURSE (CIW)

2008

WORDPRESS TRAINING COURSE

ATTRIBUTES

• Experienced at brainstorming, production and execution of new design concepts meeting business and style requirements for web and print.

• Designed multiple global conference themes from concept through to production of printed materials i.e. for posters, banners and exhibition stands and also across different web platforms.

• Ability to conceptualise the elements of company brands and represent these consistently throughout a complex design project.

• Clear written communication skills, able to write and proof copy with strong typographic skills.

• HTML Email blast creation, online newsletters, interactive advertorials online, website creation.

• Worked on social media site branding on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn & Twitter / X, TikTok.

• Expert with using Adobe Suite including Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Wordpress, Chat GPT, Ai prompts, image creation, video editing, animation, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Canva, MidJourney, Figma, Keynotes, Microsoft Office, Powerpoint template design.

• A good understanding of current AI / web / design trends, formats and technologies.

• Creative, innovative mindset, able to work with policies and on multiple projects and deadlines.

• Confident at liaising with colleagues at all levels and negotiating with senior staff.

• Experienced at working on both a Mac and PC.

• A warm, friendly, enthusiastic, collaborative person with lots of positive energy and drive to succeed.
  

PERSONAL INTERESTS

The Arts, oil painting, digital art, video animation, photography, flute, acoustic music, film, fashion, podcasts, documentaries, personal development, interior design, holistic living, health & fitness, animals, astrology, nature & environmental issues.

CONTACT

• info@nickymacart.com

• www.nickymacart.com

For more information or to discuss a potential collaboration, feel free to reach out to Nicola at: info@nickymacart.com.

REFERENCES UPON REQUEST