Space Manatee

Nicole Ray is an artist and illustrator based in southeast Michigan. She graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York and Trinity College in Connecticut.

Nicole creates a line of whimsical art prints and paper goods infused with a playful sense of humor under the name Sloe Gin Fizz. Her work presents a charming cerebral mix of fanciful animals and cozy interiors in a world of hand-drawn illustrations. Detailed line work and strong colors rule in scenes that are highly accessible, infused with humor and a strong narrative quality.

Nicole’s daily rhythms are fueled by bottomless cups of coffee, towering stacks of books and ginger-filled dreams of savory and sweet. She and her mister live in a log cabin on a lake with a border collie and an ever-changing network of critter friends.