ABOUT THIS EPISODE

This week I am joined by Nicholas Ferguson, a London based artist and imagination guide who uses painting to honour the unrepeatable complexity of being human. We talk about having the audacity to come back to the thing we loved as children after years of doing what felt sensible, and what it cost us to push rather than follow our intuition.

Nicholas shares how a school grade nearly kept him from calling himself an artist, and how two decades in hospitality and beauty eventually led him back home to the canvas. We talk about his burnout pattern, the nervous system work helping him recognise it early, and the immersive performance he created for Edinburgh Festival that plays on the hero's journey… as well as the audacity to create.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Recorded between London and Lisbon, we acknowledge the colonial histories of the UK and Portugal, and honour the diverse communities whose lands and labour built these cities.

FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS

Download your free Joy Hour resource at www.goddxxpath.com/joyhourgift

IN THIS EPISODE

Turning discarded flip chart paper into abstract art

Painting outdoors in mud and charcoal

Painting as childhood expression before he had the words

The GCSE grade that changed his path away from art school

20 years across Wallpaper, Estee Lauder and MAC

Naming the burnout pattern and where it started

Nervous system regulation, breathwork, forcing versus flow

Icons of London, his series of 70+ watercolour portraits

The immersive Hero's Journey performance he created with friends

Finding his singing voice through beatboxing and vocal coaching

TIMESTAMP

12:42 - Joining from Crystal Palace and Lisbon, recent joy and outdoor painting

15:56 - What is a Fermax board

18:05 - Painting as childhood expression

21:01 - The GCSE grade and art school

23:44 - Twenty years in hospitality, beauty and magazines

26:07 - Naming the burnout pattern

29:00 - Nervous system, forcing versus flow

34:51 - The Hero's Journey performance

50:55 - Where to find Nicholas

ABOUT THE GUEST

Nicholas Ferguson is a London based artist and imagination guide who uses creative expression to honour the unrepeatable complexity of being human. He grew up using painting to process what he felt before he had the words for it, and after two decades in hospitality, beauty and magazines he came back to the canvas.His portrait series Icons of London celebrates the imperfect perfection of being human, with over 70 watercolour portraits completed so far. His imagination practice, The Colour of Splash, creates space for people to reconnect with creativity as a compulsion and a practice, not just a talent.

RESOURCES & MENTIONS

Icons of London, Nicholas's portrait series

The Colour of Splash, Nicolas's imagination practice and monthly workshop

Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey

Marv Radio, Beatboxer and Vocal Coach

Dr Voice, Vocal Teacher

The Shift with Giel

Create Your Destiny with William Whitecloud

SuperGenius with Ryan Pinnock

CONNECT

Ella Mesma

Website: www.goddxxpath.com

Book: www.goddxxpath.com/journal-to-joy/

Current offers: www.goddxxpath.com/links/

Instagram: instagram.com/ellamesma

Nicholas Ferguson

Website: www.thecolourofsplash.com / www.atelier-naf.com

Instagram: @atelier_naf / @thecolourofsplash

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzr

YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ybUzyvIV4PVoZ3S9ZK1pEGKuY7XcY8M

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Music: LamRock. Everything else: brought to you by Ella and guests.