• Home
  • Writing
  • Essays
  • Illustration
  • About me
  • Shop
Menu

Jess Nicholson

Illustration, printmaking & writing
  • Home
  • Writing
  • Essays
  • Illustration
  • About me
  • Shop

The jungle dwelling

Feature for House & Leisure

BUILD Vol. 4 Autumn 2022

jungledwelling.png
Screen Shot 2022-07-21 at 16.20.45.png

Ntokozweni

Feature for the Mail & Guardian on Ntokozweni Centre for the Vulnerable

https://mg.co.za/news/2021-07-03-jabs-bring-relief-to-village-of-care/

front_LR.jpg
Bonga_Mtshali_resident_LR.jpg
wheelchair&children_LR.jpg
Beauty_soccer_2_LR.jpg

Johannesburg

NGT City Life

July 2021

Front_picNGT0721_122_citylife_johannesburg-1.jpg
NGT0721_001_cover_full_web.jpg
NGT0721_122_citylife_johannesburg-1LR.jpg
NGT0721_122_citylife_johannesburg-2LR.jpg
NGT0721_122_citylife_johannesburg-3LR.jpg
NGT0721_122_citylife_johannesburg-4LR.jpg

Nxaxo

Getaway Magazine

May 2021

nxaxo_FIRST.jpg
Nxaxo_Getaway_May2021-1LR.jpg
Nxaxo_Getaway_May2021-2LR.jpg
Nxaxo_Getaway_May2021-3LR.jpg
Nxaxo_Getaway_May2021-4LR.jpg
Nxaxo_Getaway_May2021-5LR.jpg

The Life Savers

High Life Magazine

January 2020

HLSA Cover FIRST.jpg
HLSA Cover JAN20LR.jpg
HLSA Sharks FIRST.jpg
HLSA Sharks Jan20-1LR.jpg
HLSA Sharks Jan20-2LR.jpg
HLSA Sharks Jan20-3LR.jpg

Into the Blue

HLSA Sharks FIRST.jpg
HLSA Sharks Jan20-1LR.jpg
HLSA Sharks Jan20-2LR.jpg
HLSA Sharks Jan20-3LR.jpg

Halcyon Days

Halycon Days

Getaway

February 2021

halcyondays_FIRST.jpg
Kingfisher_Getaway_Feb2021-1LR.jpg
Kingfisher_Getaway_Feb2021-2LR.jpg

Daily Maverick

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-10-31-barren-seas-once-teeming-waters-off-kwazulu-natal-show-few-signs-of-ocean-life/

barren_Seas_FIRST.jpg
Screen Shot 2020-01-15 at 09.37.05.png

The Human Factor

Feature for the DG Murray Trust on the relationship between parents and teachers in South Africa’s poorest schools

October 2019

HFactor_FIRST.jpg
human_factor_coverLR.jpg
DGMT_1.jpg
DGMT_intro_LR.jpg
DGMT2.jpg
DGMT3.jpg
DGMT5.jpg
DGMT8.jpg
DGMT9.jpg

Durban artists

High Life Magazine SA

November 2019

artists_FIRST.jpg
artists_1LR.jpg
artists_xavierLR.jpg
artist_kennethLR.jpg
artist_karlaLR.jpg
artists_nicky_LR.jpg

In the garden of earthy delights

Highlife

February 2017

Eight-page feature on Ardmore pottery

frontArdmore1stspread.jpg
00-HLSA-Feb-cover_smaller.jpg
Ardmore1stspread.jpg
ardmore_2ndspread.jpg
ardmore_3rdspread.jpg
ardmore_4thspread.jpg

Lavish Views

12 lodges with lavish views

Getaway

June 2018

Contributor to 10-page feature on South Africa’s best views

Best Views_LR_Page_1.jpg
Best Views_LR_Page_2.jpg
Best Views_LR_Page_3.jpg
Best Views_LR_Page_4.jpg
Best Views_LR_Page_5.jpg

Road trip

Road Trip

Getaway

January 2019

frontsunday drive durban.jpg
roadtrips.jpg

Vultures

I wrote about falling in love with vultures for safarious

https://www.safarious.com/article/14771-the-vulture-trail-a-story-of-mop-tops-and-unicorns

Screen Shot 2018-10-14 at 4.06.01 PM.png
 Skirting around the Seletwane mountain, we headed up a ridge that separates the Free State from KwaZulu-Natal. Views to the right were of Sterkfontein dam and to the left, the little berg stretched out to the escarpment. And from this ridge, what th

Skirting around the Seletwane mountain, we headed up a ridge that separates the Free State from KwaZulu-Natal. Views to the right were of Sterkfontein dam and to the left, the little berg stretched out to the escarpment. And from this ridge, what this time I first identified as a small very quiet aeroplane, glided over us. Cape Vulture number one: wingspan approximately two metres.

 We walked to the edge, and sat down. And when I say edge, I mean the type of place where you don’t say to anyone who is your friend “just move back a little bit more” while trying to compose a good photograph. When the wind blows, don’t go after you

We walked to the edge, and sat down. And when I say edge, I mean the type of place where you don’t say to anyone who is your friend “just move back a little bit more” while trying to compose a good photograph. When the wind blows, don’t go after your cap, even if it is your favourite, just lie down, hold the grass and try not to scream (this can perhaps upset or excite vultures).

Across from where we perched, nestled into the opposite cliff, sat our muses. With binoculars we were as close as window-cleaners looking into a ten-storey apartment block, and on each rocky floor, vulture parents went about their domestic duties. This seemed to involve mostly just staring at the youngsters (I can relate). The fluffy babies responded with an occasional nuzzle from an awkward kind of spatchcock position (which I presumed to be the fetal position for vultures). Those not babysitting, periodically launched themselves off the cliff face into the sky, to show us their enormous wings and dangly feet. We were transfixed vulture paparazzi. And I was back to being their biggest fan, one hundred percent loved-up.

 We passed through a cave covered in rock art, some figures strikingly clear, others faded and abstract enough to inspire the type of debate artists always hope their work will provoke: arguments about painterly styles, graffiti, elephants versus ela

We passed through a cave covered in rock art, some figures strikingly clear, others faded and abstract enough to inspire the type of debate artists always hope their work will provoke: arguments about painterly styles, graffiti, elephants versus elands, cubism, the creative merits of hallucinogens and whether the San knew magic mushrooms were a cure for depression.

Can you fight your genetics?

Can you fight your genetics

Men’s Health

July 2018

5 page feature on genetic testing

FEAT Gene testing MH0718_Page_1.jpg
FEAT Gene testing MH0718_Page_2.jpg
FEAT Gene testing MH0718_Page_3.jpg

The End of the Earth

To The Ends of the Earth

Men’s Health

February 2018

8-page feature on the 2017 SkyRun and why people put themselves through 30 hours of non-stop running on the top of mountains

skyrunfront.jpg
010218MHM102.jpg
010218MHM103.jpg
010218MHM104.jpg
010218MHM107.jpg
010218MHM105.jpg
010218MHM106.jpg

Training Day

Training Day

Men’s Health

February 2018

5 page feature on running phenomenon Prodigal Khumalo and the gruelling training that goes into winning a Comrades’ Gold medal

prodfront.jpg
010218MHM121.jpg
010218MHM123.jpg
010218MHM122.jpg

Still Waters Run Deep

Still Waters Run Deep

Getaway

February 2018

10 page feature on Kosi Bay and Jozini Dam

TRAVEL_KZN Waterways_Page_1.jpg
TRAVEL_KZN Waterways_Page_2.jpg
TRAVEL_KZN Waterways_Page_3.jpg
TRAVEL_KZN Waterways_Page_4.jpg
TRAVEL_KZN Waterways_Page_5.jpg

Picnics

18 Gorgeous places to picnic

Getaway

March 2018

Contributor to 10 page feature on picnics

frontPicnic Spots-5.jpg
Picnic Spots_Page_1.jpg
Picnic Spots_Page_2.jpg
Picnic Spots_Page_3.jpg
Picnic Spots_Page_4.jpg
Picnic Spots_Page_5.jpg

Silly in the Snow

10 Spots to get Silly in the Snow

Getaway

May 2018

Contributor to 9-page feature

snow_front.jpg
Snow_Page_1.jpg
Snow_Page_2.jpg
Snow_Page_3.jpg
Snow_Page_4.jpg
Snow_Page_5.jpg

A trail of two halves

A trail of two halves

Runner’s World

October 2018

newRW KARKLOOF-1.jpg
new_RW KARKLOOF-2.jpg

Break the code

Men's Health

September 2017

Feature on Kane Reilly. One of SA's fastest and kiffest trail runners

BM Survivor MH0917-1.jpg
BM Survivor MH0917-1_LR.jpg
BM Survivor MH0917-2_LR.jpg

The wildling

Men's Health

April 2017

Feature on Monde Khanyana: winner of Race the Wild Coast 2016

wildling_1stspreadLR.jpg
wildling_2ndspreadLR.jpg
wilding_3rdspreadLR.jpg

One weekend

Getaway

July 2017

Feature on the KZN South Coast

rocky bay opener.jpg
rocky bay final-1.jpg
rocky bay final-2.jpg
rocky bay final-3.jpg

Sky high

Men's Health

May 2017

Feature on Hylton Dunn and the SkyRun

MH_hylton_page1.jpg
MH_hyton_page3.jpg
MH_hylton_page2.jpg
Men's Health April 2017
Men's Health April 2017

Feature on Monde Khanyana: winner of Race the Wild Coast 2016

wildling_2ndspreadLR.jpg
wilding_3rdspreadLR.jpg

Second wind

Runner's World

February 2017

Eight-page feature on the SkyRun

RW SKY RUN-front.jpg
RW SKY RUN-1.jpg
RW SKY RUN-2.jpg
RW SKY RUN-3.jpg
RW SKY RUN-4.jpg

Richard Monisi

Tragically Richard Monisi, who ran Comrades last year, was killed in a hit-and-run accident and so my story about him became an obituary. I was very very pleased to have spent a weekend with him. Roger Jardine took this amazing photograph

HUMAN RACE-1.jpg

Urban Futures Centre Annual Report

Annual Report for the Urban Futures Centre. 2016. 

I have just begun work on this Annual Report for the Urban Futures Centre, but was excited enough about the work-in-progress to add it in. Coming soon.

Research, writing, design & layout. 29,7 x 21cm. WIP.

urbanfutures_greenfront.jpg
UFC_3rdspread.jpg
UFC_firstspread.jpg
UFC_secondspread.jpg

Academic briefs

Academic briefs for WIEGO. 2015.  

WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment: Globalising and Organising) is a large international NGO for which designer Anna Gaylard and I have worked for a number of years. Together we redesigned its compliment of academic briefs, and continue to layout and prepare papers for publishing.

Design & Layout. 21 x 29,7cm.

india - woman - marty chen-1.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_01.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_02.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_03.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_04.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_05.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_06.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_07.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_08.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_09.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_10.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_11.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_12.jpg
PB1_Rusling_1_Page_13.jpg

Kenneth Gardens project report

Annual Report for the Urban Futures Centre. 2016.

This is the second Annual Report I have done for the Urban Futures Centre, a relatively new client. For this one were lucky to have esteemed South African photographer Cedric Nunn capture the essence of the estate. 

Editing, design & layout. 28 pages. 29,7 x 21cm.

KG_Front.jpg
KG_AR_2015_HR_Page_04.jpg
KG_AR_2015_HR_Page_20.jpg
KG_AR_2015_HR_Page_01.jpg
KG_AR_2015_HR_Page_03.jpg
KG_AR_2015_HR_Page_05.jpg
KG_AR_2015_HR_Page_10.jpg
KG_AR_2015_HR_Page_14.jpg
KG_AR_2015_HR_Page_15.jpg
KG_AR_2015_HR_Page_21.jpg
prev / next
Back to Writing & Editing
2
The jungle dwelling
4
Ntokozweni
6
Johannesburg
6
Nxaxo
6
The life savers
4
Into the Blue
3
Halcyon Days
2
Daily Maverick
9
The Human Factor DGMT
6
Durban artists
8
In the garden of earthy delights
5
Lavish Views
2
Road trip
4
Vultures
3
Can you fight your genetics?
7
The End of the Earth
4
Training Day
5
Still Waters Run Deep
6
Picnics
6
Silly in the Snow
2
A trail of two halves
6
Break the code
3
The wildling
7
One weekend
6
Sky high
7
Second wind
1
Richard Monisi
5
Urban Futures Centre Annual Report
17
Academic briefs
12
Kenneth Gardens project report

Powered by Squarespace