About

Nigel Abbey
Thames Ditton, GB

Nigel Abbey was born in London and grew up in Surrey before his family moved to Scotland when he was twelve. He attended Glasgow School of Art as an external student, studying drawing and painting. In 1968 he began a Foundation Art & Design Course at Carlisle College of Art, followed by studies at Hornsey College of Art in London, where he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Art and Graphic Design. For over forty years, Abbey worked as a Design Consultant in commercial art, collaborating with major companies including Shell, BMW, Alcan, and Glaxo, as well as numerous smaller businesses. In 2017 he shifted his focus to his own art projects, allowing greater freedom for creative expression. During lockdown, Abbey created a series of twenty-seven artworks based on the lyrics of Beatles songs. He is currently developing a second phase of this project.

I was born in London and grew up in Surrey, England. At the age of twelve my family moved to Scotland to a small village just outside of Glasgow. I still have strong feelings and love for Scotland and especially for the Glaswegian people with their warmth and humour. I attended Glasgow School of Art as an external student studying drawing and Painting.

In 1968 I left home to attend a Foundation Art & Design Course at Carlisle College of Art in the north of England. I was then fortunate to gain a place at Hornsey College of Art in London, a prestigious and renowned Art School where I graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Art and Graphic Design.

I spent over forty years as a Design Consultant working in commercial art with well known companies and brands eg Shell, BMW, Alcan, Glaxo, also smaller entrepreneurial businesses.

In 2017 I decided to concentrate more time on my own art projects giving me the freedom to express my creativity more freely. One of the projects I have worked on for the past year during lockdown is a series of twenty seven creative artworks based on the lyrics of The Beatles iconic songs. A spin off was the ABBA series with my family connection to Sweden.

Recently I have published a new series of artwork inspired by the beautifully seaside town of Båstad in Sweden.

I am married with two grown up daughters, one living near me in Thames Ditton, Surrey and the other daughter living in Sweden.

CV

Education

  1. 1969–1972Hornsey College of Art· London

    Degree in Art and Design

  2. 1968–1969Foundation Course· Carlisle

    Foundation in Art and Design

Experience

  1. 2017Artist· Surrey, England

    Creative art projects. Digital and new media design, fine art prints.

  2. 1987–2017Design Consultant· London and international

    All kinds of creative campaigns, branding, literature

  3. 1976–1987Creative Director· Frazer/Cummings/Story, Frazer/Abbey/Story

    Creative Design Consultancy

  4. 1973–1975Designer· MRT Studios

    Designer and Photographer

  5. 1973–1976Freelance designer· London studios

    Commercial art

  6. 1972–1973Artist· Shell Mex and BP

    Designer Advertising Services