Nicolas Fourie

Hello, I'm Nicolas Fourie. I've been drawing since I was about 4 years old, always captivated by my imagination. At the age of 7, I lost my father to leukemia, a loss that deeply impacted me. Drawing became a therapeutic outlet during this time, and I found comfort in creating images of Jesus and God with big, protective hands. Throughout my school years, I faced verbal bullying and rejection, feeling insecure without a solid father figure to guide me. Art and music became my escape. My mother, Anne Fourie, has been an incredible source of strength, and her unwavering faith and kindness have always supported me. My brother also encouraged me greatly while growing up.

In junior school, I began drawing caricatures of my teachers, one of which ended up in the school magazine. I recall drawing Mrs. Rain, a teacher who got a nail stuck in her knee. I depicted her crying with tears raining down, which amused everyone.

During a family holiday in New Zealand, I entered a colouring competition held by the Waikato Times at the age of 12. A year later, back home in Empangeni, South Africa, a package arrived—I'd won the competition! The prize, a branded cap and some goodies, filled me with joy.

Throughout high school, I won several art awards and earned cultural colours for art in grade 8, receiving a badge for my blazer. While I was proud at the time, I’ve since learned to remain humble and focus less on ego. At 15, I had my first comic published on the back of the American teen magazine, Breakaway, which was a product of
Focus on the Family.

After excelling in art during high school, I debated between becoming a sound engineer or pursuing art professionally. I chose the path of creativity and studied Graphic Design for 3 years at Durban University of Technology, later completing my B-Tech degree at Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa.

After years of working in various in-house design companies, I made a bold decision: I quit my job to focus on getting my health back on track after dealing with a chronic health condition. Now, I'm all about optimizing my health and fitness—I'm a bit of a fitness junkie these days! From intense workouts to clean eating, I’ve transformed my lifestyle and haven’t looked back.

With over 15 years of experience in the graphic design and digital marketing industry, I now run my own design company, NICOLAS DESIGNS, working from my home studio. Beyond design, I love creating content, playing guitar, and continuously exploring new ways to express myself creatively.

I’m passionate about storytelling, whether through music, art, film, or photography. People’s stories and the motivations behind their personal transformations fascinate me. I believe in the power of storytelling to inspire, inform, and uplift us all.