Sam Nicklin Turns Ebay Finds Into Small Funny Worlds

Creative Boom: Sam Nicklin turns eBay finds into small, funny worlds The Nottingham-born photographer and director builds still lifes from a colour, an object and a good joke – with subjects including a watch squeezed into a stack of onion rings and a crocodile that wants your finger. Sam Nicklin grew up in a creative family in Nottingham, and he always thought he'd be a musician. "We were always encouraged to explore the things we loved," he says. After studying sound engineering and drumming at university, he drifted into graphic design and photography. He spent several years shooting the football scene, and when work went quiet, he turned to still life.

"It was a shift that opened up a whole new creative direction for me, and now I'm here!" He has since worked with brands such as Nike and Salomon and has photographed the Premier League. In his portfolio, you'll see vibrant colour palettes and plenty of clever compositions. So much so that many have gone on to describe his work as "graphic", which Sam admits "makes sense" considering his graphic design background. But a lot of it comes from what he watched as a kid in the 90s. "I grew up surrounded by colour and bold graphic design, which has definitely shaped the way I see the world today," he explains.

Saturday morning telly and cartoons such as Samurai Jack – with their "strong focus on colour, composition and visual experimentation" – have stuck with him ever since, and have "naturally found their way into my work". So how does one of his little worlds begin? With a pairing. "I like to start by combining an object with colour, and then build a narrative around the two," Sam says. If the object is blue, he'll gather up more blue things to build a universe around it, or throw in a red one so it really pops. His flat is stuffed with finds from markets and eBay, so he never runs short.

"From there, I'll source objects that help create a sense of narrative, not necessarily a fully formed story, but enough to spark curiosity and make the viewer think. I also love incorporating subtle humour into my work. It's something I enjoy playing with, and I think those small, unexpected details can add another layer to an image." Flick through the rest of the artworks in this article, and you'll notice that it's a bit like walking into a toy shop that's been art directed by someone with a sharp eye and a silly streak.

A green plastic crocodile snaps open its jaws as a ringed finger creeps towards its teeth, while a matching green clog sits below, stamped with a 'Do Not Touch' starburst. A black Chanel handbag hovers above a tiny scissor jack against a wall of red, as if it's being raised for its MOT. A watch wraps around a tower of fried onion rings with 'Don't miss lunch!' shouted across the top, and a Timex ad shows a hand mid-chess move on a board where a doughnut has slipped in among the pieces.

Elsewhere, buttons in everyday shades swarm around a fragrance bottle; a pale blue watch floats among a toothbrush, a calculator, a bottle opener, a Lego figure and a troll doll; a nine-square grid gathers a Nintendo 64 controller, a Disney World pin, a disposable camera and a football, each in its own block of colour. In Sam's world, luxury and junk get exactly the same treatment – lovingly lit and never quite serious. The Alessi series is the one that "definitely stands out" for Sam, "mostly because it's so bold yet so simple".

Article truncated for readability. Read the full piece →

Nicklin's innovative use of eBay finds to create engaging visual narratives offers fresh insights into brand storytelling, making it significant for brand strategists looking to enhance identity and engagement.