My name is Nicola Jay de Beer Mastin. I am a South African artist living in South Florida, a lover of light and all the spectacular colors it brings. I've always been an artist for as long as I can remember, although I never knew it then.

I come from a family that loves nature. Growing up in Africa meant that we were almost always outside. As a young child, I was always encouraged to create. We created everything we did—even the bedtime stories my mother told us would come from her imagination, never a book. These early years are the ones that molded me, and they are the ones I'm most thankful for.

My creative journey formally started in my early twenties when I studied fashion design. I worked in this field for more than 20 years, creating clothing for people of all ages. This is an industry that I still like to dabble in today. It was not until the passing of my father that my journey as a painter started. I dreamed of a picture I just knew I needed to paint. I sold that painting soon after... and so it began.

I am inspired by many things—nature, people, architecture, and relationships, just to name a few. The simplest of things are sometimes the most inspiring. Simplicity is important. It's the way I like to live and continue to aspire to be.