Kimberley Nicolle is a contemporary artist whose work is shaped by a deep affinity for coastlines, the sea, and island life. This is balanced by an equally strong passion towards urban street art, photography, neon colour, and music culture. Rooted in Curdridge, her work exists at the intersection of nature and the city.
She works in a highly expressive, instinctive way, often painting directly with her hands and using mixed media. This physical and immersive process produces artworks that feel raw, energetic, and celebratory.
Her visual style is defined by vibrant colour palettes, layered textures, and a strong sense of movement. These elements are influenced by emotional response and a profound connection to nature. This forms the foundation of her distinctive signature style, making her work instantly recognisable.
This design is a reflection on love, loss, memory, and the promise of bright futures. At the centre of the design is the heart, which holds universal meaning but something different for each person. In this artwork, this heart becomes a recurring motif, celebrating its power to connect us, evoke emotion, and inspire reflection.
The sculpture features interlocking and overlapping hearts, creating layers that suggest depth, complexity and the many intertwined experiences shared within the community. The heart represents those we hold dear in the present, as well as those who are no longer with us but remain alive in memory.
The layers of hearts and vibrant colours symbolise the many forms love can take: enduring connections, cherished memories, and the promise of new experiences. The design is a celebration of love in all its forms: loving deeply, remembering fondly, embracing the here and now, and carrying hope and passion for the future. The name Valen embodies love and devotion, honouring not only personal relationships but also the wider community.
Lion of Love Valen
The Lion has arrived at the studio
I’m incredibly proud to be a Pride of Portsmouth artist, working here in Portsmouth on this exciting Wild in Art project. I’m especially delighted to be partnered with Adopt South. I feel honoured to represent them through this collaboration.
My lion sculpture has now arrived, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It was a quick van journey to Portsmouth City Council to collect this spectacular fibreglass lion sculpture. It arrived carefully wrapped in bubble wrap, pristine and white, ready for the transformation ahead through my design and colour concept.
At this stage, I’m in the preparation phase, carefully taping areas and planning the finer details before beginning to spray and paint the lion. There’s definitely a sense of nervous excitement building, which I think comes with working on such a large and meaningful sculpture.
The sculpture is substantial in size, and it already feels like a presence of its own. On the journey back, my daughter sat beside it in the car, singing to it the whole way, so even still wrapped in bubble wrap, this lion has already been given a lot of love.
It’s now in my studio, waiting for the brushes and spray cans to bring it to life. I’ll soon begin applying colour and detail in preparation for the Wild in Art trail, which is due to launch in early July.
Proud Lion - Adopt South
I’m incredibly excited to partner with Adopt South. I can’t wait to work together on this project and to have them proudly standing as a lion sponsor alongside my painted sculpture.
