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About Nicky Bourke | Waikanae Paper Artist

“Where everyday moments meet colour, creativity and the quiet magic of making.”

Hello, I’m Nicky Bourke, a New Zealand artist and designer based in Waikanae on the beautiful Kāpiti Coast.

As the Waikanae Paper Artist, I create original floral, botanical and coastal artwork inspired by gardens, changing seasons, family stories and the colours found in everyday life. My creative process often begins with paint, paper and an idea at my studio table before developing into artwork that can be shared and enjoyed around the world.

From Original Artwork to Beautiful Products

My paintings and designs become colourful greeting cards, wrapping paper, gift bags, stationery, table linens, kitchen accessories and boutique gifts through The Papercraft Studio.

My collections include hydrangeas, garden flowers, coastal themes, orchard fruits, entertaining designs and playful golf gifts. Some pieces also draw upon my family’s artistic heritage, including treasured watercolours painted by my great-grandmother more than a century ago.

Each collection has its own story, but they all share my love of colour, thoughtful details and products that help people celebrate, decorate and give with heart.

The Story Behind the Blog

From the Heart to the Hands is where I share:

  • New paintings and works in progress
  • The stories behind my artwork
  • New product and collection releases
  • Floral, coastal and garden inspiration
  • The journey from an original painting to a finished design
  • Reflections on creativity and finding beauty in everyday life

I believe creativity does not need to be perfect or grand. It can begin with a handwritten note, flowers from the garden, a memory, a colour combination or the simple decision to make something with your hands.

Shop The Papercraft Studio

Explore my complete range of art, stationery, gifts and home products through The Papercraft Studio on Zazzle.

Designed in New Zealand. Printed to order. Ships worldwide.

Browse all product collections →

Stay Connected

Thank you for visiting my creative corner of Waikanae. I hope you find colour, encouragement and something that speaks to your heart.

— Nicky Bourke
Waikanae Paper Artist
The Papercraft Studio

Contact Nicky →

Popular Reads from the Studio

From Attics to Algorithms: Reviving Family Art in the Age of AI

Who I am today is because of who they were — and how we can now share it with others... Why this story matters Art isn’t only what’s on the paper—it’s the hands, the history, and the hilarious detours behind it. I grew up with paint-splattered mugs, half-finished vases, plates, rocks, and a mother who could turn a quiet afternoon into a full-blown creative experiment. Today, I’m bringing those pieces (and my great-grandmother’s watercolours from over a century ago!) out of the attic and into the world—thanks to a very modern toolkit. Growing up in Waikanae, a small town on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand, I spent quite some time watching as my mother learned to paint, asked for feedback, and continued navigating her own life in colour. My great-grandmother was a talented watercolour painter herself, but likely wasn’t aware of how her art would touch me 100 years later—a few of her pieces I’m lucky enough to have and enjoy as wall p...
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PAINT PURPOSE & NAVIGATING THE MESSY MIDDLE

Life  in the so-called “messy middle” is real. It’s that peculiar phase where everything you’ve been doing to juggle life, work, family, and just existing seems to collide—and your body and mind throw up their hands in protest. For me, it showed up as a feeling of discontent. A “wake-up call” the realisation that I’d stumbled into “Sniper Alley” and the realisations that come to meet you in the "Alley"  I remember laughing with a friend about how entering your 50s should come with a warning label and a welcome drink. Everything starts to feel a bit… off. You push through—because we’re good at that, right? You brush it off, go to work, help the family, show up for friends, and keep moving. But eventually, you notice you’re running on autopilot and that glass of wine or comfy blanket isn’t doing the trick anymore. So I started having those deeper conversations with others—turns out many of us are standing knee-deep in the messy middle too. We’re surrounded by wellness trends, s...
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From My Heart to Your Hands — Art That Travels the World

  From My Hands to Your Eyes — How My Art Travels There is a kind of work that happens long before anything is seen. It happens when you steal time — not from others, but from noise. Time to listen to your own thoughts. Time to sit with an idea without rushing it into usefulness. Time to teach yourself something new, even when no one is watching. This is where my work begins. The Workbench Stage — paint, paper, and quiet concentration This is where the ideas first arrive — messy, real, honest, full of colour. My tools stay close. My desk fills quickly. My hands get busy. Artist Nicky Bourke studio desk Turning artworks into shareable creations Some pieces sit together in ways that surprise me — a teacup, a paper bloom, a card, a colour test … all leading somewhere I can’t quite see yet. These aren’t just “products.” They began as moments at my desk — paint, paper, curiosity — transformed into something printable, giftable, or collectable anywhere in the world. When pai...
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HEART IN PAPER - FIND AND CREATE YOUR MOMENT

  Welcome to My First Blog:  A Place to Pause, Reflect, and Maybe Even Belong:   "Crafted Moments - The Beginning" by Nicky Bourke  There’s nothing particularly remarkable about me—at least, that’s what I used to think. I’m in my mid-50s, married, and a proud mum to a teenage daughter. We live in beautiful New Zealand, in a home my husband built with his own hands. It’s more than a house—it’s a labour of love, complete with blood, sweat, tears, and yes… a few swear words too. The gardens have grown slowly over the years, filled with plants begged, borrowed, gifted, or discovered at sales. Every bloom, every branch tells a story of patience and persistence. And now, when I look around, I see the vision we had taking shape before my eyes. They say “Home is where the heart is,” and I believe that deeply—because this home holds mine. So, What’s This Blog Really About? That’s a good question. This blog needs to have purpose—and more importantly—it needs to conne...
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Never Say Never — Creating From a Moonboot

Never Say Never — Creating From a Moonboot Finding comfort in colour, creativity, and community. It’s been a while since my mind felt full of thoughts worth sharing. A few years ago I broke my ankle; recently I had surgery to repair ligaments and clean out the joint. Six weeks of crutches and a moonboot later, I’m learning a new kind of patience. Not being able to drive, walk far, or do much without help has been its own awakening—and I’m deeply grateful for the love, kindness, and generosity of friends and family who keep showing up. It’s 5:15 on a Monday morning. Boston (my cat) is tucked beside me while rain taps the roof and windows. Creativity feels like comfort today, and the need to express it has me up early, typing away. You know my love for colour and my ongoing search to uncover my creative voice. With mobility limited, my focus has shifted: I’m discovering how technology—ChatGPT, Facebook, Zazzle, Instagram—can carry my thoughts and creatio...
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