“My art celebrates the little joys in life—those moments that are often unnoticed but hold great significance for our happiness. It’s a reminder not to take life too seriously and to cherish the simplicity and laughter found in those tiny moments”
From discovering her artistic passion in 2022 to becoming a sought-after designer, Nephthys Foster has redefined what it means to be a self-taught artist. With no formal training and a decade-long career as a nanny, her journey into art was born from a deeply personal desire to create pieces that resonate with her unique sense of style and identity. Her debut collection of bold and vibrant prints, inspired by life’s often overlooked joys, quickly captured attention and marked the beginning of her creative ascent.
Rooted in the beauty of simplicity and everyday moments, her work transcends boundaries, seamlessly adapting to fashion, travel, and lifestyle mediums. Through diverse collaborations, Nephthys showcases her ability to tailor her art to reflect the essence of each brand she partners with, cementing her place as a versatile and authentic voice in contemporary design.
Turning Simple Moments into Bold Designs – The Magic of Nephthys Foster
Nephthys Foster sits down with José Berrocoso, our lifestyle editor, to discuss her journey, her dynamic artistic creations, and the exciting future ahead in her career.
From nanny to artist and designer, your journey is truly inspiring. Can you share what motivated you to take that leap into the art world in 2022?
The leap into art actually came from a very personal place. After spending over a decade as a nanny, I found myself wanting to create art that spoke to my own aesthetic – something that wasn’t readily available in the market. It wasn’t a calculated career move; it was simply me creating what I wanted to see in my own space. The response to my first collection, which focused on life’s overlooked joys, was incredibly encouraging and somewhat unexpected. It showed me there was a real appetite for art that celebrates simple moments.
Being self-taught, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting out, and how did you overcome them?
Being self-taught meant I had to overcome a lot of self-doubt initially. After leaving school at 16 to become my father’s career, I didn’t have the traditional creative community that comes with formal education. I had to build my own community through social media, which turned out to be incredibly supportive. Without formal training, there’s always that question of whether you’re ‘qualified’ to be an artist. But I’ve come to see this as a strength – it allowed me to develop my style without being confined by traditional rules. My biggest challenge was probably believing in my own vision and learning to trust my instincts. The positive reception to my work helped build that confidence.
Your background as a nanny seems to have deeply influenced your perspective on art and life. Can you tell us more about how those experiences shaped your creative vision?
My years as a nanny taught me to see magic in the everyday moments that adults often overlook. Children have this amazing ability to find joy in the simplest things. This perspective deeply influences my art – I try to capture that same sense of wonder and playfulness in my designs. Working with children also taught me the importance of human connection and how art can bring people together.
Your work celebrates simplicity and everyday joys. How do you identify and translate those seemingly small moments into bold and vibrant pieces of art?
I believe there’s extraordinary beauty in ordinary moments. My art is about taking those overlooked joys and amplifying them through bold colours and playful designs. When I create, I focus on capturing the feeling of these moments rather than just their appearance – it’s about translating emotions into visual celebrations.”
You’ve described your art as a way to bring people closer to happiness. How do you ensure your designs remain accessible and resonate with diverse audiences?
I strive to create art that speaks to universal experiences. Whether I’m working with luxury hotels in Ibiza or designing Christmas jumpers for River Island, the core message remains the same – celebrating life’s simple pleasures. This universal theme helps my work connect with people across different backgrounds and cultures.
Many artists struggle with finding their unique style. How did you discover and refine your signature bold, joyful aesthetic?
My style emerged naturally from my desire to create art that makes people smile. The bold, vibrant approach wasn’t something I consciously developed – it was more about staying true to my vision of how joy and celebration should be expressed visually. This authenticity has become my signature.
You’ve worked with an incredible range of brands, from BLESS Hotel Ibiza to River Island. How do you tailor your designs to reflect the unique identity of each collaboration?
Each collaboration is a unique opportunity to blend my artistic voice with the brand’s identity. For BLESS Hotel Ibiza, I drew inspiration from the island’s landscapes and culture. With River Island, it was about creating festive jumpers that would become part of people’s holiday traditions. The key is finding that sweet spot where my style enhances the brand’s vision.
Your designs for Anthropologie’s Christmas beauty collection and River Island’s festive jumpers were highly successful. What do you think made those projects stand out to audiences?
I think these projects resonated because they went beyond just being products. The River Island jumpers, for instance, became conversation starters and memory makers – most lines sold out by the second week. With Anthropologie, we created packaging that transformed everyday beauty items into cherished gifts. It’s about creating emotional connections through design.
Your collaboration with Ron Santiago de Cuba captured the essence of Cuban culture. How do you approach creating culturally inspired artwork while ensuring authenticity?
Using Ron Santiago de Cuba’s brand colors, I created prints that celebrate the spirit and essence of their iconic rum. These colourful designs capture the joy of celebration and relaxation that the brand represents, while paying homage to their rich Cuban heritage.
What inspires you most in your daily life, and how does that inspiration find its way into your art?
It can be anything, really. We often get caught up trying to celebrate only the big moments in life, when actually, it’s the smaller things that bring such pure joy – a dinner with friends, flowing conversation, laughter around a table. Joy is all around us if we just take a moment to notice it. These are the moments that inspire my work and find their way into my designs.
What’s next for you? Can you give us a glimpse into any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re particularly excited about?
While I can’t reveal all the details just yet, I’m excited to share that interiors and design are my main focus going forward. Taking my designs off paper and bringing them into the world of interiors is what’s on the agenda for next year – it feels like a natural evolution in my creative journey and I can’t wait to share more soon
