Hawksbill

I saw this hawksbill while it was recovering in a quarantine facility at SAAMBR. The name of the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is derived from its hawk-like snout. Hawksbills are listed on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, with decreasing numbers. The outer edge of the carapace is serrated in juveniles and significantly more so in adults. This is another key characteristic of the hawksbill. They are, however, mostly exploited for their attractive tortoiseshell patterned carapace as decorative jewellery.

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Nic employs a contemporary impressionist technique that blends traditional and experimental paint application. Nic’s art focuses on interpreting marine life, as well as the Australian landscape.

Currently, two galleries show his paintings: The Montville Art Gallery in Queensland and the ArtworX Gallery in Goolwa. He is also a management committee member of the Adelaide Art Society.

In South Africa, he had previously exhibited and sold artworks at prestigious venues, such as The Green Gallery in Mount Edgecombe, The Gallery at the Lifestyle Centre in Ballito, Makiwa Gallery in Umhlanga, and the DUT Art Gallery. In 2021, Nic was featured on the cover and had an eight-page spread in the South African Artist magazine. In 2023, he won First Prize at the Campbelltown Art Show and a Merit Award at the Royal South Australian Society of Arts winter exhibition. In September 2024, Nic graduated from a PhD in visual arts where a series of paintings explore the role of art in sea turtle conservation. This year, Nic received a Highly Commended Award at the Victor Harbor Art Show, was a finalist for the Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize, and was the featured artist in the Adelaide Art Society’s autumn exhibition. Nevertheless, his unwavering focus remains on depicting the interplay of light and subject, utilising techniques reminiscent of the famous impressionists.