Nicola Naismith’s current research interests include exploring and interrogating the role of the artist in commerce and non-arts settings, creative work and the precariat, and skills and dexterity found within everyday life and creative practice. She creates visual artworks, talks, writing and events which explore the importance of context and connection in both artmaking and leadership practice. She was the Visual Artist Fellow on the Clore Leadership Programme in 2017/18 and is author of Artists Practising Well a research report which explores affective support for creative practitioners working in health and wellbeing settings. Nicola supports creative practitioners through research and advocacy, and working as a coach, mentor and action learning set facilitator.

Nicola Naismith works for Shetland UHI as a lecturer leading modules in Professional Practice, and Reflective and ethical practice on the online MA Art and Social Practice programme. She undertakes research in her role at Shetland UHI and on a freelance basis focusing on the support and wellbeing of creative practitioners working in participatory arts settings.

In January 2022 she launched her AHRC / Clore Leadership report Practising Well: Conversations and Support Menu research which builds upon the Artists Practising Well research report from 2019. Nicola collaborates with the Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance on the annual Practising Well Award which highlights and celebrates good practice around support for creative and heritage practitioners. Nicola also works with arts organisations to design programmes and lead workshops with a broad range of clients including Luminate, Creative Future, Scottish Artist Union, Axis, Engage, the Lowery and Open Eye Gallery. Most recently she has worked with Flourishing Lives to evaluate a set of reflective practice groups funded by the Baring Foundation. Nicola also mentors and coaches individual creative practitioners and cultural leaders, and works on her own studio based and social art practice projects.

Nicola holds fellowships with Clore Leadership (2018-), Royal Society of Arts (2017-) and the Higher Education Academy (2005-).