Digital Niche

11/09/2025

A feature in this BBC article and mention of Lidar Community. Thank you, Megha Mohan.

Lidar is a small non-profit safe house for young moms in Namibia. In the past few months I have worked with them, they have ONLY been positive and forever optimistic, regardless of the limited funding and resources.

Looking after their social media, marketing, and website has only been rewarding. Here is to more eyes on Lidar and the amazing work they do.

The billionaire philanthropist is donating $50m to research the issue, as part of a larger $1bn pledge.

11/07/2025

I have recently completed this website for the MOST positive, uplifting and outcome orientated group of women, based in Namibia.

Lidar is a safe house in Windhoek. Their first goal is to give a safe space for vulnerable, young moms and their little ones. These women are often very young and victims of GBV and abuse.

What is so positive? Each mom goes through a 6-week skills training course. This varies from sewing to cooking classes, or driving lessons. Each of these skills set up the moms for employment and the success stories speak for themselves. The team at Lidar work hard to establish relationships with businesses in the area for job placements.

It makes all the difference to see these moms shine and provide for their families when once they thought all hope was lost.

The funding and donations go towards the basics like food and shelter, but also include childcare (so the mom can study or attend classes), the actual training courses, transport, internet and keeping the facility functioning (water and electricity bills).

If there is a business or individual that wants to get involved - this is a good cause to consider.

PS. I have added some photos of the moms and have to say it is hard to beat Bella's face of joy behind the wheel :)

LINK TO THE WEBSITE IN THE FIRST COMMENT

07/07/2025

I remember collecting magazines when I was in primary school - not Huisgenoot or Sarie, but the glossy ones with beautiful designs and layouts, featuring larger-than-life statement properties and cutting edge design of all sorts - talking art and ideas. There were only a few local publications in South Africa at the time, but I was particularly inspired but the ones from the UK or France and other far flung places that felt so foreign, yet so familiar.

Then there the well known titles that inspired travel I used to page through, dreaming of design and travel. I kept some tear outs for years and the really pretty ones fully intact for longer than I probably should have.

So on that note - it is a thrill, especially in the age of all things digital, to be able to see my work and words in PRINT on a regular basis in international magazine. I do not write under my own name, I write for and on behalf of my clients - but my work nonetheless.

29/09/2023

A few prints from the Belmond series are available online.

These are professionally printed on 300 gsm acid-free art paper and UV protected.

Sizes: A5 or close to A5

SOLD UNFRAMED

Nichelle is based in Cape Town, South Africa. She runs a boutique marketing and design agency and ventures outdoors and paints in her free time.

04/09/2023

RESERVE THE DATE - 14 Sept

I am part of a group exhibition in September with my coffee paintings.

On show will be the work I did for Belmond Hotel Group, Botswana. Belmond has graciously allowed them to go on sale. There will be original pieces as well as limited prints available.

We will be 10 artists in total with work from sculptures, photographers and other painters on display. The venue is pretty special too - Welgemeend is one of the oldest homesteads in Cape Town and houses a collection of Boerneef art.

Opening reception:

14 September 2023
17:00 - 19:00

Welgemeend Manor | Welgemeend Street | Gardens, Cape Town

25/07/2023

A dedicated website for my coffeepaintings showcasing commission work, some oil and other watercolour paintings like this one called Starry Night
https://coffeepaintings.co.za/

Starry Night was done with coffee, berry tea and an experimental technique with coarse sea salt to create the effect of stars.

I am busy with a range of new paintings using the same technique. They, along with some other originals and prints, will be available to purchase at the end of August.

21/02/2023

Tried my hand at digital art recently.

Not minimalist.

29/11/2022

Doing marketing strategy and online work most of the year, so getting the opportunity to help with branding a mobile beach coffee bar was such a nice change!

Looking forward to seeing this van on the beach in Simonstown.

Good luck Heather and John and thanks for knocking on my door to get me involved. All the best with this venture.

07/11/2022

SEVEN years, one month and 7 days.

There are so many people to thank - you all have a part in it. THANK YOU.

After all these years, I can honestly say: I STILL LOVE WHAT I DO.

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25/08/2022

Too similar?

The range is being scrutinised for bearing a close resemblance to Checkers' Forage & Feast range - both have navy blue colours.

08/08/2022

Digital Niche offers a range of services, some projects are shorter than others, and some span over years.

This one is worth a mention.

The Golden Globe Race is a solo non-stop race around the world which starts and ends in France. What makes it unique is that it is a retro race, meaning participants have a set of rules to follow that ensure they sail like it is 1968 - no modern tech, no outside support.

Digital Niche has seen to the media and design for one of the South African entrants for the GGR2022, Jeremy Bagshaw.

Over the last 3 years, this involved:

Website design, logo design, recording and supplying video footage every 3 months of boat and prep work updates, supporting fundraisers, liaising with the organisers and other local and international media crew, writing press releases, photo and video library management and social media updates (some of these updates come in via sat phone while Jeremy is sailing).

After three years, it feels unreal to think the start is less than a month away, but it is far from over.

The excitement is building to the start in Sept, and we report from our desks. For close to 9 months, we will only see what the trackers see. Anything can happen as these sailors sail through the notorious Southern Ocean for a large part of the race.

It has been such an interesting project. I feel privileged to have exposure to such a global event.

I encourage you to follow along - either on Jeremy's page or on the official GGR page: Jeremy Bagshaw - Golden Globe Race 2022 OR Golden Globe Race

Let's all wish Jeremy good luck - I am sure he will make South Africa proud!

A short clip of some of the film work:

I am a lifelong sailor having been introduced to the sport by my father at the tender age of 6. I graduated through various dinghies from Optimists to Lasers...