Sometimes the pull to slow down is strong: to sit with a steaming cup of tea, to step into an ancient forest and stare up at the trees, to stop the hustle and bustle and truly be still. But all too often it gets ignored—as we rush about our busy lives or face the endless distractions of modern living.

But there’s something powerful about slowing down—often reconnecting with nature—that can help us reconnect with ourselves. And it is there we find our source of strength, creativity and purpose.

A life drawn freehand

For Nicole Onslow, a life led intuitively has brought her a true sense of joy, fulfillment—and success. Since studying Fashion Design, she has built a creative career that is hard to categorise: artist, illustrator, textile designer, graphic designer, interior designer… But there is a common thread in all her pursuits: Nicole follows her joie de vivre.

“I’ve always followed what makes me happy rather than a set path,” says Nicole, “and my love of all areas of design has ultimately shaped a varied portfolio.”

It wasn’t a path she consciously planned, but one that was revealed as she remained open to opportunities and had the courage to say yes. It has led to her living and working around the world from London to New York to Paris. Nicole has illustrated for fashion magazines, ad agencies and publishing houses, including covers for books like The Devil Wears Prada, and has freelanced with local and global fashion and lifestyle brands.

“While there’s been opportunity to scale into a larger studio,” says Nicole, “I’ve always chosen to remain hands-on in the creative process, which is where the real joy lies for me.”

Discovering ikigai

The French call it a raison d’être; in Japan, it is known as ikigai.

For Nicole, ikigai is a philosophy she’s been living her whole life but only recently came to recognise.

“Ikigai is a term I was only introduced to recently,” says Nicole. “I made the wonderful realisation after that conversation that I am in fact ‘ikigai-ing’ and am fortunate to have been my whole career.”

Ikigai translates roughly to ‘a reason for living’ or ‘a meaning for life’. In essence, it is a framework that balances four core principles:

1.    What you love (passion)

2.    What you are good at (vocation)

3.    What the world needs (mission)

4.     What you can be paid for (profession)

Those who live according to their ikigai are said to enjoy long, happy and fulfilling lives.

“I can whole-heartedly say that I absolutely love what I do,” says Nicole. “It certainly never feels like work, and yet I get paid to paint and draw every day. It has been said that I have a great talent for it, and art—whether you are the creator or the observer—can provide joy, inspiration, contemplation, wellbeing, and connection. So, it is, of course, something the world needs.”

The rhythm of creative living

Nicole’s life as a freelance creator is one of ebbs and flows—sometimes juggling multiple projects and long days, other times waiting for the next brief to arrive.

Despite the uncertainty, Nicole deeply values the sense of freedom this lifestyle affords.

“That flexibility of managing my own time allows me to shape my days around what keeps me balanced,” says Nicole, “going to the gym when it suits my body rather than after work when I’m tired; waking naturally rather than to an alarm; and working late into the evening when needed because I’ve had space in the day to support the admin of life.”

With her commercial work, Nicole has learned to deliver swiftly and efficiently on creative briefs from clients. But with this fast pace, comes a need for balance. Every day, Nicole prioritises walking 10,000 steps.

“Sunshine, fresh air, and a route that always takes me through nature is incredibly re-energising,” says Nicole.

On top of this daily ritual, Nicole prioritises regular time out. Every other year, a long trip to France—visiting her husband’s family and soaking in the natural beauty—brings her much-needed restoration and inspiration.

Dressing with intention

Immersed in the world of fashion, Nicole firmly believes in letting your personality shine in how you dress.

“How we step out into the world each day says so much about who we are,” Nicole says. When it comes to fashion for women over 50, Nicole believes dressing with intention means honouring your own body shape, knowing which silhouettes flatter you most, and embracing what makes you feel fabulous.

“Finding confidence exactly as you are—in the body that’s uniquely yours—is your greatest superpower,” says Nicole.

Her belief chimes with our own Blue Illusion ethos, and is one of the many reasons we chose to collaborate with Nicole on our recent campaign for The New Look launch. In this collection that is so much about embracing your femininity and meeting yourself where you are, Nicole’s elegant, fluid illustrations felt perfectly aligned with our French-inspired fashion. Her beautiful work—and even Nicole’s own hands—can be seen in our recent cinema ad.

Following an urge to focus on her health and fitness after becoming frustrated with the change of season in her life, Nicole recently began working with a personal trainer.

“I’ve challenged myself to reach beyond what’s comfortable,” says Nicole, “and it’s been the best decision I’ve made in a long time. It’s given me my confidence back, filled me with boundless energy, I feel strong, and it’s helped me to prioritise myself.”

In a moment of synchronicity, it was this same personal trainer who introduced Nicole to the philosophy of ikigai.

“Taking a little time each day for something that is entirely your own can become a quiet ritual that points you toward what truly brings you joy,” Nicole says.

For those wanting to explore their own ikigai, Nicole recommends cultivating the curiosity and courage to try something new.

“Creating art is a beautiful place to begin. It’s wonderfully therapeutic and an invitation to simply play… You may discover passions you never expected.”

For Nicole, connecting with her purpose, listening to her intuition and living with intention all helped her hone her own ikigai.

“If my work as an artist—which is a daily source of joy—can continue forever whilst also inspiring others, then what more do I need but a few moments to lie in the sun wrapped in gratitude?”

Merci beaucoup, Nicole, for sharing your wisdom with us!

We hope Nicole’s story has inspired you to consider what your own ikigai, or raison d’être, might be.

Bisous!