Drawing passers-by

It takes only a few seconds for the woman with the colourful head scarf to walk past the window of Roll for the Soul, but in that time Nicola Colton has quickly drawn an outline of her clothes and scribbled down colours and other sartorial notes to one side.

In the next few moments, Nicola continues the first impression of a piece that within a couple of hours will be finished on a computer at her studio in Hamilton House.

It will form the latest work in People of Bristol, a project that she describes as “capturing the spirit and individuality of the people of Bristol”.

Professional illustrator Nicola has lived in Bristol for two years and when moving to the city from Dublin was struck by the sheer variety of people who live here.

So as all good artists should do, she got out her sketchbook and began a project that over the last few months has captured more than 20 people including mothers with babies, a skateboarder and even somebody casually strolling down the street carrying a plume of peacock feathers which matched his outfit.

“He captured my imagination,” Nicola says. “I wondered where he was going in a his amazing leopard-print bright yellow shoes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR50XbmAbm6/?taken-by=peopleofbristolillo

Roll for the Soul on Quay Street is one of Nicola’s favourite people-watching spots with a window that offers a particularly good vantage point.

On a recent Friday morning, she sits with a cup of coffee, sketchbook in front of her and pencil case to one side, capturing her latest subjects.

“I didn’t quite get her gait,” Nicola admits midway through one initial sketch. “She had a bright pink headscarf, fun-looking pink dress and cropped trousers underneath which looked quite fun.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR564sAAdkv/?taken-by=peopleofbristolillo

Nicola, who lives in Coombe Dingle with her partner who works in IT and plays in punk bands, admits that it is colour that attracts her most to passers-by.

“I’m like a magpie,” she laughs. “Part of this project is figuring out for me what makes Bristol so special, why I love it. For me, this is like an overview, these are people who make up pieces of the puzzle.

“I have never seen so many colourful and interesting people all in one place than Bristol, even when I just walk down the street, and I just feel inspired.”

Nicola makes quick illustrations of passers-by before finishing the pieces on a computer

“It’s very voyeuristic,” Nicola admits. “It’s very nosey looking at people, But I try to notice the magic in the everyday, getting lost in my drawings, the little details and the unique, creative sense of style of the people here.”

So far, a couple of people have contacted Nicola to say that they think they recognise the people in her illustrations, but as yet nobody has spotted themselves.

To see more People of Bristol illustrations by Nicola Colton, visit www.instagram.com/peopleofbristolillo

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSS1c4LgPnb/?taken-by=peopleofbristolillo

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