Nico Smith graduated from Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Mass and received a BFA with the concentration in photography. They are interested primarily in animal portraiture as well as landscapes and nature as a whole. This has been a lifelong interest of Nico, having grown up on a farm in early childhood. Having always spent time outdoors it wasn't until discovering photography was a way to capture it and got their first camera in the first grade did photographing really take off.

 

Though they haven't participated in any formal contests or photography shows Nico has won honorable mentions, website staff pick, honorable mention on a photography website called Viewbug as well as a number of peers wards from other photographers who post regularly. In the summer of 2016 Nico had also completed an internship with an animal education center. Over the course of the 6 week period, learning about the animals with hands on experience had been helpful in knowing how to photograph them in comfortable situations for the animals. It also allowed Nico to deal with a number of lighting situations they could possibly run into in that environment and learn to adjust accordingly.

Upon graduating Nico is considering the route of art therapy, preferably working with small children who don’t quite have the words to express what needs to be said. Taking the courses offered at Montserrat they have been able to experience the different mediums in which other students would work in their chosen major or concentration. Using the skills used in each they will try to help said children to better express themselves using the skills Nico was taught during their time at Montserrat.