I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1974 during the civil conflict, youngest daughter in a family of artists. As a child, my parents moved house every year, sometimes twice a year. Every time we moved we would pack our lives into just a few boxes, taking only the essentials and leaving the rest behind. Deciding on what to take was a family bonding exercise. I carried this roaming spirit with me into adult life, moving from house to house, country to country. A nomadic existence became its own form of stability.
This shaped the way I perceived attachment – to places as well as people. I grew up believing home and relationships were the same as material possessions: they were special, to be treasured, but they were temporary. And while I loved them for the duration of their presence in my life, I always knew that I would one day have to say goodbye.
I began writing and painting as a way to quietly express the pain of this impermanence. I felt different to other people, as if the growing list of addresses meant I was guilty of a crime. When I painted I could say what I couldn’t speak aloud without betraying my family - that I wanted a place to stay. My creativity was the one thing I could carry from place to place. Art lived within me, a faithful companion.
My art focuses on what is essential, from houses made of paper, to stickmen, and the lure of isolation. In my paintings I’m always asking myself the question, what am I in my essence? If I can exist without permanence, what is the constant being within me that is eternal and unchanging?
Through my work I want to ask these questions and see the answer emerge on the canvas. I’d love my paintings to help answer those questions for the viewer too, to recognize the restlessness within, and offer a place to stay.
About Nina
Nina Couser studied Art and Literature, and has had her poetry and stories published and awarded in several national and international journals. She worked for many years in crochet design where she is known for her vintage patterns and recognizable style.
She has held numerous solo exhibitions in Northern Ireland and participated in several group exhibitions. Her work is held in private collections in Europe, Australia and the United States. She currently works from her studio in Zug, Switzerland.
Exhibition History
• July 2026 – Gallery Whitehead, Northern Ireland – solo exhibition – “In Another Life” – a range of artworks from my studio over the last 6 years
• April 2025 - Whitehead Community Centre, Northern Ireland – Solo exhibition “Shadows” – Abstract Body of abstract work based on flow, shape and intuitive expression
• October 2023 - Gallery Whitehead – Group exhibition – “Transition” Landscapes and Abstract artworks - nature as an elemental force
• May – September 2023 – Dock Cafe Gallery, Northern Ireland – Group Exhibition – Irish Landscape night scenes
• December 2022 - Gallery Whitehead, Northern Ireland - Group exhibition – “Un-settled – living at peace despite political unrest” – larger scale work of Irish landscapes and futuristic landscapes
• August 2022 - Gallery Whitehead, Northern Ireland - Solo exhibition – “Doorways” semi-abstract Irish Landscapes in acrylic
• April 2022 - Gallery Whitehead, Northern Ireland - Solo exhibition - “Homeland” – Irish Landscapes in acrylic/collage, exploring the union of home with domestic violence through contrasting imagery
• February 2022 - Whitehead Community Centre Northern Ireland – Solo exhibition – “Little Houses” project: body of small intimate paintings in acrylic/collage, exploring themes of home, trauma and peace
Artworks and Commissions
Nina enjoys painting from the imagination, however if you have a special idea for a painting and would like to discuss a commission, feel free to contact her at ninacouser@gmail.com.
Orders and Shipping
Products can be shipped worldwide. Shipping costs will be calculated at the time of purchase.
Payment must be made in advance via PayPal or bank transfer.
No refunds can be given, so please be sure that you are fully aware of all aspects of the product, including finished size, frame style etc. This does not affect your statutory rights.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Email: ninacouser@gmail.com