Nicky Johnston
Nicky Johnston is Melbourne based, award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. She has over 40 children’s book titles published in Australia and overseas.
Nicky loves every aspect of creating children’s books especially illustration. Her illustration style is often described as whimsical, playful, narrative, emotive and colourful. She loves to work in watercolour, ink, pencils, pastel, and printing techniques.
Nicky is a primary school educator with over 25 years’ experience. Her illustration workshops are fun, engaging and give students hands on success at all levels. She shares her love of visual storytelling and inspires the students to stretch themselves. She is passionate about working with children of all ages, encouraging them to use their imagination and develop their own ideas.
AWARDS:
CBCA Honour Book Award:
Amira's Suitcase
CBCA Notable books:
Jorn's Magnificent Imagination
Grandma Forgets Run Pups Run
WINNER Speech Pathology Book of the Year:
The Incredibly Busy Mind of Bowen Bartholomew Crisp
Speech Pathology Book of the Year Shortlisted Books:
Jorn's Magnificent Imagination
Where's Bear
I LOVE visiting schools and meeting students and teachers and running hands-on drawing sessions.
I have a great understanding of inclusivity, differing attention spans, the need for movement I’ve created a Social Story I send to schools. I know this can sometimes be helpful for some younger students.
I wear my WWC on a lanyard throughout the duration of my visit.
Helpful things for you to know when I visit your school.
Booking Times:
I am flexible and adaptable and happy to work with your school’s timetable.
45mins - 1hr sessions are ideal with a maximum of 4 sessions per day.
I like to arrive at least 30 mins before my first session to get everything set up and ready to go.
Where classes are joined, I prefer similar year levels to be joined together ie: Prep/Yr1/Yr2, Yr3/Yr/4, Yr5/Yr6, as this helps me pitch my sessions at the appropriate age and ability level.
Requirements:
- A room or area with enough space where the students can comfortably participate in drawing activities
- Access to a TV/Screen with HDMI port, (I use an iPad and will bring my Adapter, HDMI cords etc…)
- A whiteboard I can attach my butcher’s paper to for drawing demonstration
- A table for my things
- A microphone (for large groups or gym/hall spaces)
Students (and teachers!) to bring:
- 2-3 sheets of paper or drawing book
- A clipboard or leaning board
- Grey lead pencils
- Their imagination!
Testimonials
Nicky Johnson presented to our Prep to Year 3 students as part of our Book Week celebrations. Her warmth, creativity, and passion for storytelling truly inspired our young readers, writers, and illustrators. Students were captivated by Nicky’s engaging sessions, which she skilfully tailored to suit each year level, making the experience meaningful and memorable for all.
Good Shepherd Parish Wheelers Hill - 2025Nicky was a huge hit with both students and staff during her recent 7-day residency at Berwick Primary School. Her sessions were engaging, entertaining and informative. Nicky was able to capture the attention of students from prep to grade 6 and was incredibly generous with her time between sessions, chatting with students and even joining in with lunchtime art groups. We highly recommend Nicky to any primary school considering engaging her services.
Berwick Primary School - 2025We were absolutely delighted to welcome Nicky to present to our Prep students here at Christ Church Grammar School. Her warmth and enthusiasm shone through from the moment she began. The presentation was perfectly pitched for our younger students, engaging, interactive and wonderfully captivating. Our students were completely absorbed, laughing, learning and asking thoughtful questions throughout. The staff were equally impressed and appreciated the way she made storytelling and illustration come alive. It was a truly inspiring visit!
Christ Church Grammar School - 2025
The friendship book
Where shall we travel today
Cubby Hunting
31 and a 1/2 things to know
The Coco Series
Amira's Suitcase
Jorn's Magnificent Imagination
Finding Bunny
The Incredibly Busy Mind of Bowen Bartholomew Crisp
The Mosaic
Nature's Song
Under the Same Sky
The Millie Series
Run Pups Run
Victoria
Speaker type
- Author
- Illustrator / Designer
Audience
- Preschool
- Prep - Year 2
- Year 3-6