Nancy Pickard was born in Brazil but grew up in the Channel Islands. Her father, Bryan Pickard, is a watercolour artist. Nancy was a student at the Central School of Art in London and Caridd Art College, graduating in ceramics in 1986. In 2002 she moved to west Cornwall, settling in St Just. She produces mixed media paintings in an eccentric, naive style as well as enamelled silver jewellery, ceramic and mixed media sculptures. Subsequently she moved to Devon.