EPISODE · May 22, 2026 · 1H 1M
From Burnout to Artist: Nikki Edwards on finally living her childhood dream
from Not Us Podcast · host Angela Samantha Kaaber Kilian
What happens when the safe career you spent years building suddenly feels completely wrong? Or worse… what if it never really fit you in the first place?This week on Not Us Podcast, we’re joined by London-based mixed-media artist Nikki Edwards to talk about burnout, bad fits, creative identity, and the long, messy road back to herself.Before becoming a full-time artist, Nikki worked in top advertising agencies across South Africa, London, and Sydney. On paper, she was successful, in demand, and living an exciting creative life. In reality? She found herself stuck in a pattern of burnout, breakdowns, time off, and starting over. Sometimes in new jobs. Sometimes in new cities. But never quite able to outrun the childhood dream she’d had since she was three years old.Today, somewhere between unfinished creative projects, experimentation, uncertainty, and finally trusting herself, she’s building a life that feels far more honest.The strange thing is, none of this was new. At three years old, Nikki already knew what she wanted to be: an artist.We talk about:choosing the “safe” career pathwhy creative industries can quietly break peopleAI panic and what it means for artistsbeing South African abroad and apparently “too direct”unfinished projects and creative guiltcomparison, fear, and starting overwhy physical art matters more than everand what happens when you stop ignoring yourselfThis isn’t one of those neat “quit your job and follow your passion” conversations. It’s about the awkward middle bit. The uncertainty. The grief. The identity wobble. The practical fear. The mess. And sometimes having to navigate all of it a little naively just to keep going.Because becoming yourself often takes much longer than expected.Guest: Nikki EdwardsLondon-based mixed-media artist working from Hackney Downs Studios.Nikki’s details IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikki_edwards_studio_london/Website:www.nikkiedwardsstudio.co.ukEmail: [email protected]#CreativeBurnout #ArtistLife #CareerChange #WomenInCreative #Creativity #LondonArtist #NotUsPodcast
What this episode covers
What happens when the safe career you spent years building suddenly feels completely wrong? Or worse… what if it never really fit you in the first place?This week on Not Us Podcast, we’re joined by London-based mixed-media artist Nikki Edwards to talk about burnout, bad fits, creative identity, and the long, messy road back to herself.Before becoming a full-time artist, Nikki worked in top advertising agencies across South Africa, London, and Sydney. On paper, she was successful, in demand, and living an exciting creative life. In reality? She found herself stuck in a pattern of burnout, breakdowns, time off, and starting over. Sometimes in new jobs. Sometimes in new cities. But never quite able to outrun the childhood dream she’d had since she was three years old.Today, somewhere between unfinished creative projects, experimentation, uncertainty, and finally trusting herself, she’s building a life that feels far more honest.The strange thing is, none of this was new. At three years old, Nikki already knew what she wanted to be: an artist.We talk about:choosing the “safe” career pathwhy creative industries can quietly break peopleAI panic and what it means for artistsbeing South African abroad and apparently “too direct”unfinished projects and creative guiltcomparison, fear, and starting overwhy physical art matters more than everand what happens when you stop ignoring yourselfThis isn’t one of those neat “quit your job and follow your passion” conversations. It’s about the awkward middle bit. The uncertainty. The grief. The identity wobble. The practical fear. The mess. And sometimes having to navigate all of it a little naively just to keep going.Because becoming yourself often takes much longer than expected.Guest: Nikki EdwardsLondon-based mixed-media artist working from Hackney Downs Studios.Nikki’s details IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikki_edwards_studio_london/Website:www.nikkiedwardsstudio.co.ukEmail: [email protected]#CreativeBurnout #ArtistLife #CareerChange #WomenInCreative #Creativity #LondonArtist #NotUsPodcast
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From Burnout to Artist: Nikki Edwards on finally living her childhood dream
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