Society Of Feline Artists

2nd February 1943 -4th July 2012

I sadly wish to inform you of the death of Nicolette who had been a Member of the Society since 1999.

She showed her artistic talents from an early age in both music and art, studying singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama from the age of fifteen. She graduated in Art from Goldsmith College, specialising in pottery and printmaking, and after graduating, she became Head of Art at Blackheath High School for 4 years. She then returned to the Guildhall, joining the Opera course winning several prizes as a student, and was a finalist in the inaugural Susan Longfield competition. She met her first husband, the noted tenor Anthony Rolfe Johnson at the Guildhall and they were married in 1974. She happily supported Tony during the early stages of his career, teaching Adult Education in pottery and printmaking at Bromley Adult Education, and running playgroups.

After personal tragedies and the end of her marriage Nicki sung semi-professionally with such groups as the Allegri Singers and the Mint Imperials as well as in opera, and oratorios with many choral societies throughout England. She also taught at BETHS a technical school for boys in Eltham (among her pupils was the noted Olympic athlete Steve Backley, and Tom is sure that his throwing arm owed much to Nicki’s pottery teaching!); and she continued to teach her adult education classes in Bromley.

She met her second husband Tom and they were married in 1984.

From the 1990s Nicki concentrated on her artistic career. Her husband Tom was very supportive. She was a member of the Society of Women Artists and the Society of Feline Artists; she was also for many years a member of the Association of Sussex Artists. In 2004 she achieved perhaps her greatest artistic success in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, with three of her etchings selling 275 prints, worth over £30,000. She was also been very successful in the 2005 and 2006 Summer Exhibitions. She also regularly exhibited with SOFA in London and Wareham, Dorset, also at Snape Maltings in Suffolk.

Alex Johnson and Celia Pike attended Nicki`s etching classes. Both of them said her teaching was excellent and fun, Nicki inspired others through her teaching to have the confidence to fulfil their own artistic potential. Nicki introduced Alex to printmaking and Alex introduced Nicki to SOFA.

Sadly at the height of her artistic success she was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, continuing to work for as much as she could despite the disease. We have lost a talented lady.

On behalf of SOFA flowers were sent to the funeral.

There is an open invitation to celebrate Nicki`s life at a memorial service at St. Francis church, Ravensbourne Avenue , West Wickham on the 14th August 2012 at 2pm. Satnav postcode BR4 0PW. There is a large council car park opposite the church and West Wickham station is 10 minutes walk.

Kay Young