Nicole Donson creates one-of-a-kind hand-painted silk scarves, garments and evening bags made with hand-painted silk and velvet. She has participated in numerous juried craft fairs and open studio events throughout the New England area: The Worcester Center for Crafts Holiday Fair, The Decordova Museum's Art and Craft Festival in the Park, The Holly Fair at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Somerville Open Studios, Somerville's ArtBeat Festival, Boston Festival for the Arts, The Coolidge Corner Arts Festival, Newton Crafts Fairs and more. Her work is available at the Fire Opal Craft Gallery in Jamaicia Plain and Brookline, Art in the Heart Gallery in Maynard, The Cambridge Artists Cooperative, The Blue Cloud Gallery in Somerville and by appointment in her studio at The Washington Street Art Center at 321 Washington Street, Somerville, Massachusetts.

Nicole holds a Bachelors degree in Art History and a Master's degree in Communication from Boston University. She has taken several silk-painting workshops with the respected silk-painter and author, Susan Louise Moyer (Silk Painting for Fashion Fine Art and Silk Painting and The Artist's Guide to Gutta and Wax Resist Techniques) and has studied with the established silk painter, Jan Janas. She has taken fabric painting and watercolor painting at The Massachusetts College of Art and numerous art classes at adult education centers throughout the Boston area. In June 2002 Nicole attended The Silk Painters International Conference in Washington D.C.

Nicole is most inspired by Art Nouveau and the great modern artists of the 20th Century. Some of her favorites include Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Kandinksy, O'Keefe and Chagall and their influence can be witnessed in her work. Like Matisse, Nicole is not afraid to use bold colors, rich reds and greens, beautiful blues and vivacious purples. Yet she also incorporates softer shades; browns, deep greens, and grays into her flowing designs.

Most of her art education first started in early childhood since her father owns and manages a fine art gallery in New York City. As a child and young adult she gained much exposure to art at museums located throughout Europe, at her father's gallery and in his home. As a child and teen she engaged in art and craft projects, kniting, needle point, quilting and sewing. During her high school years, she studied in private art classes managed and taught by a local contemporary artist. There she practiced drawing, sculpture, water color painting, print-making, ceramics and stained glass.

Nicole has been an active member of the Washington Street Art Center in Somerville since 1998. In the summer of 1999, she managed media relations and publcity for the Somerville Arts Council's Windows Art Project. Nicole also managed media relations for Somerville Open Studios in 1999, 2000 and 2001, a citywide event that featured more than 100 mid-career and emerging artists, and will be participating artist as well in 2003.