Nicholas Elliott
Nicholas Elliott was born in East Anglia and is now based in North Norfolk. He is a professional painter whose work is held in collections in the UK and internationally. He sold his London marketing company in 2000 to pursue a career in art, and taught himself the rudiments of oil painting while living in India and Spain. He returned to the UK in 2004, settling in Somerset and taking part in local and regional art shows, and gained London gallery representation in 2008 following an exhibition in Cork Street, Mayfair. He lived and worked in Brittany from 2010 until 2013, when treatment for cancer of the jaw brought him back to the UK, and he moved to North Norfolk at the end of that year. He paints in oil across biblical subjects, still life, landscape and floral work.
Artist Statement
In 2000 I sold out of my marketing company in London to pursue a career in Art. I rented out my Battersea flat and lived cheaply in India and Spain where I taught myself the rudiments of oil painting. Encouraged by the progress in my work I returned to the UK in 2004 and moved to Somerset where I took part in local and regional art shows and exhibitions. My paintings steadily improved and in 2008 following a very successful exhibition in London's Cork Street Mayfair I gained London Art Gallery representation.
I thought that I had made it. And with a reliable outlet for my work in London I moved to Brittany in 2010 to live and work. I transformed an old barn in my garden into a fabulous studio. I was living the dream - which was to shortly turn into a nightmare when in May 2013 I was diagnosed with cancer of the jaw.
I returned to the UK for treatment at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. I had to sell my house and studio in France to release capital as I would obviously be unable to work for some time. As I needed a quick sale I lost a fortune.
To remove the tumour my surgeon was to take away the entire lower and upper left side of my jaw to my chin, cutting away my left cheek and part of my neck. The reconstruction, which was to be done during the same 18 hour operation, would be to replace my lower jaw with part of the fibula bone from my right leg mounted to a titanium structure and part of my thigh was to form the left inside of my mouth and cheek.
The week before my operation a dear friend whom is a committed Christian phoned to ask if I could get to St Marys Church in Loughton where she and others would pray for me. I wasn't a Christian but I did believe in a higher power so thinking that I had nothing to lose I went along. At the church I waited at the back of congregation for my friend with the service underway. I felt so awkward standing alone in an unfamiliar evangelical environment with a large bloody dressing on my face to cover the tumour which by then had come through my cheek. I had no idea what to do but then suddenly I was engulfed by what I can only describe as 'Pure Love' in every sinew of my being, how long it lasted I have no idea. It was the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me and I have no doubt as to who it was and I have followed Jesus ever since.
After the operation I struggled with the psychological effects of the disfigurement of my appearance and the financial pressures I faced as a result of my illness. But God has been good to me - I underwent a secondary reconstructive operation to improve my appearance and financially I am now back on my feet and moved to North Norfolk at the end of 2013.