Belle - the book
Now viewable on Blurb.com , the book “Belle”
Patrick Nicholas has assembled all the photos from the Belle series as a limited edition 104 page book. The colour printing is first class and satisfaction is guaranteed. You can preview the book by clicking on the cover. The first is the large and prestigous coffee table hardback 33x28cm (13x11") 104 pages containing 53 large images (incuding 4 new images from summer 2011) €99.95 ($119, £75 you’re best off buying in GBP!). If you want it signed by the author please email for more information .
Alternatively there is the small 18x18cm abridged 80 page version: €24.95 (£19)soft cover; €37.95 (£29) hard cover - an ideal stocking filler this one!.
Biographical details
Late Developer
Patrick Nicholas (Oxford, 1952) spent a number of years after leaving school trying to find his way in the world, moving through a curious arc from army to art school. He travelled and worked widely in North and Central America. He finally settled down to studying photography and cinema in London, graduating in 1977. His first job after University was as assistant editor for the then unknown director Ridley Scott. He was sacked after three months for running the rushes of Alien upside down; shortly afterwards he decided that the film industry was not for him nor he for it. Footloose and fancy free again he spent a year in Cairo working for Egypt’s first advertising agency in the post soviet era before chancing upon a job that took him to Italy for a week - he has been there ever since.
He set up his own studio in Bologna as a fashion and advertising photographer in 1988. As a relief from purely commercial photography he embarked upon the series that later he was to call the Belle - a series of tableaux inspired by painting, sculpture and occasionally music and cinema, using non professional models of all ages and types.
In 2007 he turned his back on commercial photography altogether to strike out into unknown territory by setting up his own photo gallery in the small jewel that is Orvieto, on the borders of Tuscany and Umbria. Of late he has combined more and more landscape and figure in a uniquely Tuscan vision. He still has to create an image inspired by Alien - the cause of his downfall over thirty years ago.
Patrick divides his time between professional photography for the fashion industry, advertising and portaits as well as running training courses for photographers of all levels of competence. He is the founder Camera Etrusca (http://www.cameraetrusca.com), a series of residential photography courses held in Umbria in central Italy near lake Bolsena.
Juvenile interest in Botticelli outside the Gallery
Floriade Fair
Here Daphne is being prepared prior to the opening on 4th April 2012 at the avant garde Vandenikenglas factory in the Netherlands for the world renowned Floriade Fair held every ten years this time at Venlo, near Eindhoven. 
Floriade is in effect the Gardening World’s Fair. It also boasts an exciting programme packed full of music, dance, theatre and graphic art. It lasts till 7 October.
Daphne’s eco-sustainable garden was designed by the world renowned garden architect Nico Wissing world champion in garden design, Nagasaki 2011 
New Belles
I Can Make You into a Work of Art!
Patrick is always on the look-out for new models for the Belle - would you like to participate in the Belle project and possibly gain a place in the book and gallery? Very often the idea for a photo comes through the model and photographer collaborating - in other words the model is not just a pretty face, her input is vital that is why she is literally a modern muse, the subtitle of the book. Or would you just like to be photographed as a work of art for private view? Please get in touch with
Here are a few testimonials:
Valentina’s story. Italian, aged 28 Alter Ego (2007)
I decided at first to do the photo because it seemed a fun thing to do. But afterwards after thinking about it, I realised it would be an excellent “ exercise in trust” in someone else. Sometimes we take things too
seriously, sometimes we tend to concentrate on ourselves, at others we tend towards wanting to be in control of everything. Posing for a photo means it is up to the photographer to interpret who you are, to see you in a way that’s different from how you see yourself, it means putting yourself in a position in which you have no power, and that intrigued me.
On the shoot I did feel naked! What we wear, our make-up, hairstyle, are nothing if not psychological masks. They condition our way of gesticulating, of sitting, of walking. In the shoot I felt completely free. I don’t mean to say that I found it easy, in fact in the hours beforehand I had doubts about how I would feel afterwards. My worry was how I would feel about myself in the photo… but then we’re back to talking about trust. It’s not my picture. It’s not my creation. I simply lent my body to the realisation of an idea, by someone else.
Anyway, I think that most of all my decision to do the photo came from a strong sense of not taking myself too seriously!
Monica’s story. Swiss, aged 38. She posed with her husband Samuele Bacchanalia and Diana and Actaeon
(2010)
I was struck by a TV documentary that my husband and I were watching about Nicholas and his work. My husband and I talked about it afterwards, but it wasn’t till about a couple of years later, December 2009 that we decided to try and contact the photographer. We didn’t really expect a reply, he must be famous so why should he be interested in an ordinary couple like us? To our amazement we were to find ourselves a few months later in Orvieto in June on our wedding anniversary, participating in an indescribable experience. The beauty of the places he took us to for the shoot added to the magic of the day. And that’s what it was, magic. Everything combined to make it so: the beauty of the locations, the brilliance of the make-up artist Simonetta, the way Patrick directed us, the sounds of nature and the running water - it was all so far from civilization and our daily lives.
Susanna’s story. From Uruguay, aged 19. Casalisca (1989)
Posing nude for a photographer isn’t like standing naked in the middle of a busy shopping mall. We’re talking about something intimate that’s a lot less embarrassing. An art photographer doesn’t see his subject in the same way as a fashion photographer. He sees the sitter as a means of expressing his idea, whereas the fashion photographer uses the model to make her appear as beautiful as possible. And that’s why Patrick’s work is different - he works like a painter.
Rosaria’s story. Italian aged 27. Student. Bernarda (2004)
Patrick described to me how he wanted to interpret Botticelli’s Venus, but I wondered, with my face and body, could I represent such an important work of art? Soon after our first meeting something struck Patrick about my body. I have a big scar on my tummy, on the right side, as a result of a surgical operation nine years ago. This scar is important to me and I’m not ashamed of it. Patrick was inspired to do a different Venus a Venus who’d lived, scarred!
Samara’s Story, Lebanese , aged 44 Genius Loci and Seventh Veil (2010)
We arrived in Orvieto and were walking up the main road, when we noticed an art gallery; something about it was unusual but I couldn’t tell what it was. I felt so drawn to it, the colours in the “paintings” were simply amazing! I was looking at the art but couldn’t tell whether these nudes were photos or paintings. But most of all it was an elegant nakedness and a very unique kind of art, often combined with nature. It was like nothing I had ever seen before so my friend and I decided to go in to have a better look. I admired at length each and every one of them. Each piece had its own soul and a story to tell, some of them were even funny.
I thought to myself: how beautiful! I would love to be immortalised in such a way, but no way could I ever do anything like this! I am too shy! But my friend and I had often wanted to have pictures of us taken, clothed we thought. After a while, Patrick, the author and owner, came over and talked to us. He was very nice and friendly and inspired trust. After a while he expressed an interest in taking pictures of both of us which sounded both crazy and flattering.
I was going through an extremely difficult period at that time and actually felt dreadful; but to have this artist look at me, or rather through me, and be inspired by the life and beauty within me, rather than the sadness and numbness, was truly exalting. I thought to myself, this man whom I have never seen before is clearly drawn by my essence, he knows in his heart of hearts who I really am, despite my external sadness. And this had a tremendous impact on me, strong enough to break huge personal and cultural barriers. I felt I could trust him. I was sure that for some yet unknown reason this was meant to be. So right there and then I said, OK let’s do it!
Dutch Gardens
Technology moves on and the Metamorphoses are now printed by Vandijkenglas on glass to become a new form of garden architecture. 
The brainchild of garden architect Lars Verziljlenberg. Patrick steps out into this new field with Daphne; Ovid would surely approve.
The three 2 metre tall glass prints are beautifully set off by bare coffee tree branches. A Dutch water garden is the perfect setting for the nymph Daphne.
Belle
Belle
8 min behind the scenes video by Paolo Ganzi, make-up Simonetta Baletti
Women Portraying Art
28 minute documentary for Swiss TV chanel RTSI on the shooting of five photos in the Belle series in and around Orvieto, Umbria. Director Leo Colla. Broadcast in 2008.
In Italian with English subtitles.
10 min behind-the-scenes documentary video of the shooting of this image. Featuring Katia and Daniella, two young Italo- Australians. By Paolo Ganzi, make-up Simonetta Baletti.
In English
Flickr
To see photos of events, interviews and more click Flickr
On Show in Amsterdam and London
Nicholas is now represented in Holland
Dick Kits of DCK has organised three shows so far. The latest was at the Realisme Art Fair in Amsterdam (below) where Lilith (100x70cm) was sold.
Also at De Kiviet Modern Wonen
and at DK Home (photo below), both are prestigous showrooms. De Kiviet Modern Wonen specialises in modern interior home design, DK Home supplies exclusive interior products to 53 countries. 
Fresh from the London Art Fair in Islington where he had several sales Nicholas is now one of the artists on show at The Panter & Hall gallery in 9 Shepherd Mkt, Mayfair till 31 Jan Panter & Hall
Patrick Nicholas is pictured here with two of the DCK team, Dick and Ina Kits at the De Kiviet inauguration 
Nicholas supplied both DK Home and De Kiviet with framed large format prints (up to 2x1m) for their respective inaugurations. Shown here, bottom photo, is a corner of the De Kiviet showroom
behind the scenes video “Invidia”
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A selection of just some of the titles
The Paint Strippers in The Sunday Times magazine Published July 17, 2005 the week after the terrible bombings on the London Underground. The article was written by Nicholas Farrell, my colleague at La Voce, the paper which originally commissioned the photos.
Portrait of a Lady in Easy Living Published in January 2008. The editorial took a different angle: they interviewed three of the women who had posed to find out what their feelings were.
Madison Australia, October 2007 Portrait of a Lady (popular title this one). An 8 page spread with seven photos from the Belle series.
Unusually it included an article written by a journalist, Katia Sanfilippo who actually posed for one of the tableaux (the one with the typewriter) and then wrote about the experience.
The Association of Photographers
Patrick is a member of the prestigious Association of Photographers, London
To view some of the best portfolios on the web go to
Payment
payment is easiest by PayPal
All you need to make a payment by Pay Pal is an email address
For more info go to
Contact Patrick Nicholas
Postal Address:
Via dei Farnese, 26
05018 Orvieto, Terni, Umbria
Italy
cell: +39 347 275 2630
Tel & Fax +39 0763 391017
Skype: patrick.nicholas3
To contact me via email please use the form below:
If for any reason you have problems emailing me please use this gmail address
For contact information regarding sales, exhibitions and general enquiries regarding Patrick Nicholas in Benelux countries please contact Dick Kits
Buying the photographs on this site
Many of the photos on this site are for sale, either as prints or in digital format.
However the appearance of an image, especially the colours when viewed on your screen, may be wildly different from the print on Fine Art paper. To this end I offer a small print on the same paper as the bigger version for 25 €uros. If you proceed with the acquisition of a bigger print with a value of more than 150 €uros the price of the smaller one will be discounted in full - in other words it will be free. The small print will be mailed in a stiff envelope.
Price list
This price list is NOT definitive and is intended as a guide. Not all photographs are available in large size prints. Also some photos are available at certain sizes in limited editions only (usually the larger sizes such as A2 or larger.) Last prints of limited editions may cost more.
Prints are known as Giclée which basically means they are high quality ink-jet prints on cotton based paper using archival inks that should last from 100 to 200 years. the prints are delicate and should not be exposed to excessive humidity nor direct sunlight. For more information visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giclee
Base prices are in €uros. You may pay in other currencies and conversion will be based on the rate on the day of the order: for currency conversion see: http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic
Prints can be easily rolled and mailed in tubes. Postage is not included in the price. All prints of sizes A3 Plus and above will be insured. Prints cannot be mailed in mounts as they must be rolled.
Unmounted, for Window Mounted prints add 10% (these must be collected from the Gallery)
Prices for LANDSCAPES
A4 (21 x 29.7 cm, 8.3 x 11.7")
€75
A3 (29.7 x 42 cm, 11.7 x 16.5")
€130
A3 Plus (33 x 48 cm, 13 x 19")
€180
A2 (42 x 59.4 cm, 16.5 x 23.4") limited edition of 50
€375
A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm, 23.4 × 33.1") limited edition of 25
€600
A0 (84.1 × 118.9 cm, 33.1 × 46.8") limited edition of 25
€975
Panorama landscape formats:
17 x 45 cm €90
25 x 49 cm €115
30 x 70 cm €145
36 x 83 cm limited edition of 50 €345
44 x 110 cm limited edition of 50 €595
80 x 210 cm limited edition of 25 €875
For prices for FIGURE STUDIES and “LE BELLE”
please contact me using the Contact Form on the Contact page
High resolution digital Images:
Web-based use only: contact the photographer
Digital and print use: contact the photographer
