Hi, I’m Nicole Gabriel (aka “Nici”), illustrator, surface pattern designer, iPad enthusiast, and proud mother of two teenage chaos agents (yes, the mini-unhingeds). I live in Oberwart, in the far-far East of Austria (the part where Google Maps whispers, “Are you sure?”).

I’ve been drawing, crocheting, knitting, sewing, basically making things with my hands since forever, mostly so they wouldn’t accidentally scroll through pointless reels instead.

In school, teachers regularly said, “I’m sure your mom helped with this…” 

Spoiler: she didn’t. (My mom is lovely, but this creative obsession is 100% self-inflicted.)

Fast-forward: I fell into the world of IT management. Stable job, decent money, existential dread. Then I had kids, my creativity staged a revolution, my iPad started overheating… and here we are. Now I design patterns & illustrations full-time, fueled by coffee, color, and the firm belief that “being an adult” is more of a suggestion than a requirement.

My art? Warm, lively, playful, inspired by gardens, cozy chaos, and those moments where you catch yourself thinking, “Why not?”.

I hope my work brings you a little spark, something soft, something joyful, something that says, “Life’s weird, let’s make it pretty.”

So if you’re looking for:

• art that feels alive, not just decorative,

• designs that bring personality into your space,

• a creative partner for licensing or collaboration

Let’s talk!