Two months ago, Naomi launched The Nest gallery behind Phoenix Cafe. Within just a few phone calls, spaces in the gallery were fully booked. We popped in to Phoenix to hear Naomi’s story.

Naomi fell in love with Bristol whilst studying in Brighton. So much so that she decided to relocate completely.

“Bristol has such an exciting music and arts scene compared to Brighton. I just knew I wanted to be here.”

After trying out a few different jobs in Bristol, Naomi’s friend heard about Phoenix Cafe and arts hub in the ground floor of Pithay Studios. The cafe were on the lookout for self-employed baristas and vegan chefs. The opportunity was perfect for the pair, and they began trading as Milky Moon.

After serving a few hundred nut milk lattes, and an assortment of vegan treats and lunches, Naomi spotted another opportunity nearby. The room behind the cafe was up for grabs.

The Nest Gallery

Naomi had made friends with a number of artists in Brighton, as well as an assortment of creative Pithay residents. She reached out to a few of them about using the vacant space as an art gallery. After a positive response, The Nest Gallery was born.

The Nest is now lined with drawings, sculptures, fabrics, digital art and paintings.

“When I’m looking for work for the gallery, I look for things that are emotionally and conceptually charged. I don’t want it to be just another wall of art in a cafe. If it’s a bit risky – good. That’s what art is about.”

In order to support local artists, the gallery is non-profit. It’s the ideal way for creatives to get their work showcased.

Naomi has arranged a number of events in association with The Nest. As new exhibitions are launched, she hosts launch evenings in the adjacent space in Phoenix Cafe. She has also hosted fundraising life drawing classes.

“The best thing about The Nest is the sense of community. I love working in collaboration with others and sharing the space.”

The most recent exhibition, Hatched Plans, included the works of six artists from the South West.

We loved meeting Naomi and hearing her enthusiasm for the creative scene in Bristol. You can keep up with The Nest’s upcoming events and exhibitions via their Facebook page. You can also keep up to date with the latest Meanwhile Creative happenings and interviews by giving us a like.