Her entry in the Escape ARTfest 8x8 Art Prize told a story that impressed the judges, winning her the first place and $500 cash.

Titled A Novel Side, the eight inch artwork featured the pages of a Penguin Book glued to a canvas.

Nikki said this year's ARTfest theme, Edge, inspired her to work with the edges of something she loved.

“I love books,” she said.

“I collect books.

“I especially love the smell, feel, and look of the pages, of old books. 

“This tactile work took two Penguin books, carefully pulled apart, folded and placed in a way which uses the raw edge to create an artwork.”

Nikki said in artwork, the whole story of the book was “bared to all - glue and all”.

“My inspiration was those stories behind those beautiful pages.”

Dòra Röguvaldsdóttir was the open runner-up and Rod Hayes won the best landscape category.

Dawn Woods took out the best photograph prize and Christine Benavente won the best mixed media category.

The weird and wacky prize was won by Dee Carrington, while Chloe Smith took out the most original work.

Junior prizes went to Faith Komma, Gypsy Defina, Annalei Leyson, Finn Hartshorne, Mike Mulvaney, Alana Doyle, Makayla Puckridge, Taylor Hancock, Chelsea Sydenham, Hayley Boyle, Taylor Kerr, Annie Ward, Jordan Crane, George Mulvaney, Manny Kneeshaw.

Anne Gardner won the people's choice award.