The Dunstan High School year 13 pupil’s artwork has won the 2017 Otago Daily Times Secondary Scene Award for Excellence in Art.
It is from her 2016 NCEA level 2 painting portfolio, and uses a genre of figure space, figure field, to capture the horror and drama of the event.
This year she has completed art projects on Muhammad Ali for her NCEA level 3 painting portfolio.
Nicole said art was an important part of her life because it provided balance to her other passion, cycling.
The 17-year-old is among New Zealand’s top young cyclists, having won various events in the New Zealand under-19 track and road cycling championships over the past five years.
Last year, she was a silver medallist in the team pursuit at the World Junior Track Championships in Switzerland.
Next year she hopes to study business and commerce part-time while focusing on gaining a spot in the New Zealand Olympic cycling team.
But art will continue to play an important part in her life.
