Artist spotlight : Shenikah Dodd
Shenikah Dodd
1. Inspiration & Style
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique artistic style?
Answer: My passion for art began in childhood and has remained at the heart of my creative journey. After leaving mainstream education to study Theatre at the BRIT School, I continued exploring the arts through diplomas in Fashion and Art & Design, followed by a degree in Filmmaking. These experiences continue to influence my approach to composition, storytelling, and visual expression.
After taking time away from my practice to raise my children, I returned to art with renewed focus. Working at Dulwich Picture Gallery has further inspired me, surrounding me with artists and artworks that encourage continual growth. My style has developed through experimentation and a love of the bold, playful aesthetics of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Using vibrant colour, expressive doodles, and nostalgic references, I create joyful, character-driven works that celebrate imagination, individuality, and the enduring power of play.
2. Creative Process
Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into a creative mindset when starting a new project?
Answer: My creative process begins with spontaneous doodling, allowing ideas and characters to emerge naturally before developing them into more refined compositions. Inspired by the nostalgia of late 1990s and early 2000s cartoons, alongside everyday moments and popular culture, I create playful, character-filled worlds using bold colour palettes, expressive line work, and layered compositions.
Working digitally gives me the freedom to refine each piece while preserving the energy and spontaneity of hand-drawn illustration. Every artwork evolves through experimentation, balancing intuition with careful attention to colour, composition, and detail to create vibrant pieces that celebrate joy, nostalgia, and imagination.
3. Artistic Influences
How do you balance historical or artistic influences with your personal style, and how do these influences manifest in your work today?
Answer: My work draws inspiration from the bold, expressive aesthetics of late 1990s and early 2000s animation. Cartoons such as Hey Arnold!, The Proud Family, Doug, and Codename: Kids Next Door have had a lasting influence on my use of character, colour, and playful storytelling. Their distinctive visual styles continue to shape the nostalgic energy that runs throughout my work.
Alongside animation, I am inspired by jazz culture and music, particularly its rhythm, vibrancy, and sense of improvisation. Combined with my background in visual arts and filmmaking, these influences inform my expressive, doodle-based compositions, resulting in artworks that celebrate nostalgia, individuality, and joy.
4. Emotion & Expression
How do you use your art to evoke emotions, and what role does emotion play in your creative process?
Answer: My work is rooted in joy, nostalgia, and self-expression. As an artist with ADHD, I often experience the world through a constant flow of ideas, patterns, and visual connections. Creating allows me to channel that energy into playful, layered compositions that transform busy thoughts into something colourful, cohesive, and uplifting.
Through vibrant colour, expressive characters, and nostalgic references, I hope to evoke feelings of happiness, curiosity, and familiarity. My work invites viewers to reconnect with the creativity and imagination of childhood while embracing the individuality that makes each of us unique.
5. Standout Projects
Can you share a project that stands out to you and describe the creative process behind it?
Answer: Alongside my personal practice, I have completed a number of commissioned artworks, allowing me to collaborate with clients while adapting my style to different creative briefs. Having my work selected for exhibition by Holy Art marks another exciting step in my journey, reflecting my commitment to growing as an artist and sharing my work with wider audiences.
6. Feedback & Growth
How do you incorporate feedback from critics or audiences into your work, and how do you balance this with your own artistic intuition?
Answer: Feedback has played an important role in the development of my practice. Conversations with colleagues, fellow creatives, and those who engage with my work have encouraged me to refine my ideas while remaining authentic to my artistic voice. Constructive critique has helped me strengthen my compositions, colour choices, and overall visual storytelling.
As I continue to grow, I embrace every opportunity to learn through exhibitions, collaborations, and new creative challenges. I see each piece as part of an ongoing journey, allowing my practice to evolve while staying true to the joyful, nostalgic spirit that defines my work.
7. Motivation & Inspiration
How do you stay motivated and inspired, even when facing creative blocks or challenges?
Answer: I am motivated by the opportunity to create work that sparks joy and nostalgia. Inspiration comes from late 1990s and early 2000s cartoons, jazz culture, everyday life, and the creativity I experience through my role at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Each new piece is an opportunity to explore, experiment, and share a sense of play with others.
8. Exhibiting Work
How do you feel about exhibiting your artwork with The Holy Art Gallery, and what does this opportunity mean to you?
Answer: Exhibiting with Holy Art is an exciting milestone in my artistic journey. As I continue to establish my practice, this opportunity gives me the chance to share my work with a wider audience and connect with people beyond my local community. To have my work recognised and exhibited by an international platform is both encouraging and motivating. It reinforces my commitment to developing my practice and gives me confidence to continue creating and pursuing new opportunities as an artist.
9. Future Goals
What are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Answer: My goal is to continue developing a distinctive body of work that celebrates nostalgia, joy, and self-expression. I hope to exhibit my work more widely, collaborate on creative projects, and continue growing both professionally and personally as an artist. Ultimately, I want to create work that resonates with people, encouraging them to reconnect with imagination, playfulness, and the creativity that stays with us throughout our lives.
10. Audience Connection
What do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your art, and how do you aim to connect with them on an emotional or intellectual level?
Answer: I hope my work creates a sense of connection by reminding viewers of moments of joy, nostalgia, and imagination. Through playful characters, vibrant colours, and familiar visual references, I aim to create artwork that feels approachable and encourages people to reconnect with their own memories and creativity.
Whether viewers recognise the influences from their own childhood or simply respond to the energy and emotion within each piece, my goal is to create work that sparks curiosity, happiness, and a shared sense of play.
