Adam Nichols is an Australian award-winning Concept Designer and Art Director. His two decades experience includes key roles at AAA game developer Krome Studios, mobile games breakthroughs Halfbrick and The Binary Mill, and tech disruptor Croomo. In 2018 he founded SkullStar Studios specializing in Concept Design, Illustration, Art Direction, Branding and UX/UI for the entertainment and gaming industries.

He is also one half of the Nichols Brothers, with his older brother Wayne Nichols, a well known international comic artist and illustrator.

Over his career it has been Adam’s great pleasure to have worked on well-known pop culture icons including video games Star Wars (The Force Unleashed), Hellboy (The Science of Evil), Fruit Ninja (franchise), Clone Wars (The Republic Heroes), Ty the Tasmanian Tiger as well as having applied his signature style to the prominent licenses including Ghostbusters, Warhammer, Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Team Fortress 2, Portal 2, Mercedes Benz, Call of Cthulhu, Jetpack Joyride, Blade Kitten, Gun Club, just to name a few.

Also well known as one of the key creators of the award winning Mini Motor Racing franchise, the winner of Apple AppStores Casual Game of the year, Adam has recently finished working on the highly anticipated sequel Mini Motor Racing 2.

Adam also founded Nichols Publishing in 2014 with his first book The Art of Adam Nichols Vol. 1: Concept Design and Illustration and followed up by his popular theory handbook Understanding Colour in 2016 for aspiring and professional artists alike. Its companion book Understanding Composition is nearing completion and will be released in the coming months.

His illustration and design work was also featured in the PrepL online learners driver course, produced for the Queensland Government, as well as designing the Cadbury external welcome signage and internal safety signage featuring CJ the Chief Joy Officer for the Ringwood, Victoria chocolate factory produced for Mondelēz. Other clients include Beyond Blue, Cricket Australia, Penny Arcade, Titan Books, Red5 Comics, Convict Comics, Selvas M, Lamington Games, Loaded Dice Games, Qube, Aurizon, Ventia and DMC Projects.

He has worked with many of the largest international publishers including Lucasarts, Konami, EA, Activision, Microsoft and Atari.

Previous companies, clients and publishers include:

KROME STUDIOS CREDITS:

Unannounced Pitch[Current]
TBA
Unannounced Project[Current]
TBA
Unannounced Project[2024-Current]
TBA
FanDuel Faceoff[2023-Current] Android / iOS
Art Director / Concept Designer / UI Designer
SASims[2022-Current] PC
Concept Designer / UI Designer
Poker GO Play[2022-2023] PC / Android / iOS
Art Director / Concept Designer / UI Designer
Blade Kitten - Episode 2[2015] Steam PC / Steam MAC
Concept Artist / 3D Art / Textures / Lighting
Full House Poker[2011] Xbox 360 / Win Phone 7
Pre-production Art Assists
Microsoft Game Room[2010] XBox360 / PC / Mobile
Concept Artist
Unreleased Video Game[2010] XBox One / PS4
Previs Artist
Unreleased Video Game[2010] Facebook / Mobile
Previs Artist
Blade Kitten - Episode 1[2010] Steam PC / Steam MAC
Concept Artist / 3D Art / Textures / Lighting
Star Wars Clonewars - The Republic Heroes[2008] PS3 / XBox360 / Wii / PS2/ PSP / PC
Art Direction / Lead Concept Artist
Star Wars - The Force Unleased[2007] Wii / PS2 / PSP
Concept Artist / Textures / 3D Artist / UI
In-house Tech Demo[2007] PS3 / XBox360
Concept Artist
Hellboy - The Science of Evil[2006] XBox360 / PS3 / PSP
Concept Artist / Textures
Ty The Tasmanian Tiger 3: Night of the Quinkin[2005] PS2 / XBox / GC
3D Art / Textures

SKULLSTAR STUDIOS CREDITS:

GoodFellows Honey - Branding[2022-Now]
Art Director / Branding
Words Collide - Mobile Game[2021-2023]
Art Director / Branding/ UX/UI Artist
Fossil Diggers - VR Pitch[2022]
Art Director / Illustration
Unannounced Project - Software[2022]
Art Director / UX/UI Artist
Fish Off - Board Game[2020-2021]
Art Director / Branding
Frugl - App[2021]
App Icon
Super Meg - Training[2021]
Art Director / Illustration / UX/UI Artist
Beyond Blue: Way Back - Training[2021]
Art Director / UX/UI Artist
Midnight Oil - Documentary[2021]
Art Director / Graphic Design
Aurizon: Isolation & Lockout - Training[2020]
Art Director / UX/UI Artist
Lifeboat Earth - PC Game[2020]
Art Director / UX/UI Artist / Branding
AFLW: Puma Force - Comic (Unreleased)[2020]
Branding / Artist
Mini Motor Racing 2 - Mobile Game[2018-2020]
Art Direction / Concept Artist
SkullStar Studios - Branding[2016-Now]
CEO / Art Director / Owner

CROOMO CREDITS:

Mondeléz - HSE Inductions and Collateral[2018]
Art Direction / Visual Designer
QLD Government: TMR - PrepL and Supervisor[2017-2018]
Branding / Illustration / Concept Artist
DMC Projects - Midtown Centre pre-vis (VR)[2017-2018]
Art Direction / Concept Artist / UX/UI Designer
QLD Government: TMR - Caravan Awareness Tool[2018]
Branding / Illustration / UI/UX Designer
Qube Logistics - Driver Induction simulator[2018]
Visual Designer / UI/UX Designer
Ventia - Critical Risk Protocols[2018]
Visual Designer
IPL / Dyno Nobel - 'World Safety Day'[2018]
Branding / Visual Designer
Qube Logistics - The 'Qube Standard'[2018]
Art Direction / Branding / Visual Designer
ABB - CALM[2017]
Art Direction / UX/UI Design

HALFBRICK STUDIOS CREDITS:

HART[2014-2017]
Professional Development Coordinator
Monster Dash (Redux)[2017]
Artist / Designer
Mythic (formerly 'Arena of Gods')[2016-2017]
Art Direction / Artist
Fruit Ninja 2 (formery 'Fruit Ninja: FIGHT')[2016-2017]
Artist
Star Sk8r[2016]
UI/UX Design / Artist
Jetpack Joyride - Apple TV[2015]
Artist
Fruit Ninja[2014-2015] iOS / Android
Art Direction / Artist
Fruit Ninja - 5th Anniversary[2015] iOS / Android
Art Direction / Artist
Unreleased Prototype[2015]
Art Direction / UX UI Design (Halfbrick Fridays)
Unreleased Pitch[2015]
Art Direction / Artist
Fruit Ninja - Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary[2014] iOS / Android
Art Direction / Artist
Unreleased Pitch[2014]
Art Direction / Artist
Unreleased Pitch[2014]
Art Direction / Artist
Unreleased Prototype[2014]
Art Direction / UX UI Design (Halfbrick Fridays)

THE BINARY MILL CREDITS:

Gun Club Armory / VR[2019] PSVR / MetaQuest / Steam
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / UX UI Design
Gun Club VR[2017-Current] PSVR / MetaQuest / Steam
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / UX UI Design
Gun Club 3 / Armory [2013-2014] iOS / Android
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / UX UI Design
Gun Club 2 Retina[2013] iOS
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / UX UI Design
MMR EVO (Team Fortress 2)[2013] Exclusive Content
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / Textures
MMR EVO (Portal 2)[2013] Exclusive Content
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / Textures
MMR EVO[2013] Steam PC / Steam MAC
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / UX UI Design
MMR (Mercedes Benz)[2013] Exclusive content
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / Textures
Mini Motor Racing (Amazon)Exclusive content
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / Textures
Mini Motor Racing (Sony Xperia)[2012] Exclusive content
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / Textures
Mini Motor Racing (China / Japan)[2012] iDreamsky
Translations / Logo Design
Mini Motor Racing (Korea)[2012] JoyMoa
Translations / Logo Design
Mini Motor Racing (LG Dual Play)[2012] LG Smart TV
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / Textures
Mini Motor Racing[2012] EFIGS Translation
Translations
Mini Motor Racing HD[2012] iPad/Android Tablet
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / Textures
Decide-o-tron[2011] iOS
Art Direction / UX UI Design (Penny Arcade)
Gun Club 2[2011] Android
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / Textures
Mini Motor Racing[2011] iOS/Android
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 3D Artist / UX UI Design
Gun Club 2[2010] iOS ]
Art Direction / Concept Artist / 2D Artist / UX UI Design
Fruit Boom![2010] iOS
Art Director / 2D Artist

OTHER GAME CREDITS:

Galactic Trader[2010]
UI Design (3 Blokes Studios)
Eternity / Cosmic Jack[2010]
Game Assets / UI Design (Flash/Browsers)

BOOKS:

Art of Adam Nichols - Volume 2 (First Edition)[TBD]
Writer / Illustrator
Understanding Composition - Book[TBD]
Writer / Illustrator
Understanding Colour - Colour Theory[2015]
eBook (Gumroad)
Understanding Colour - Colour Theory[2015]
Instructional Handbook
Art of Adam Nichols - Volume 1 (Second Edition)
[2015] Art Book
Art of Adam Nichols - Volume 1 (First Edition)
[2014] Art Book
Darkstalkers Tribute - 15th Anniversary Art book[2009]
Illustration (Udon)
Street Fighter Tribute - 20th Anniversary Art book[2008]
Illustration (Udon)

COMICS:

Maurice and the Metal - Comic[2022]
Comic Cover Artist
Ned Kelly - Ironclad Alien Killer #2[2015]
Comic Cover Artist
Ned Kelly - Ironclad Alien Killer #1[2015]
Comic Cover Artist
Afterburn #2 - Interior Poster[2009]
Illustration (Red 5 Studios)
Ghostbusters Legion - The Zeddemore Factor (Trade Paperback) Comic[2004-2005]
Comic Colourist (88MPH Studios / Titan Books)

CARD ILLUSTRATION:

Adam Nichols - Signature Series Cards - Series 2[2016]
Illustration
Adam Nichols - Signature Series Cards - Series 1[2014]
Illustration
Warhammer - Invasion Card Game[2010]
Illustration (Fantasy Flight Games)
Call of Cthulhu LCG - Aspirations of Ascension[2010]
Illustration (Fantasy Flight Games)

OTHER CREDITS:

Interactive Wallpaper[2011] iOS / Android
Illustration (CellCrowd)
Unreleased Movie[2010]
Previs Artist (Prox13 Productions)
Megadeth - Redesign Vic Rattlehead[2006]
Illustration (DeviantArt / Megadeth)

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:

Now Open for 2025 guest appearances. Get in touch today!
Gaming, Hobby & Model Expo (GhMX) Brisbane[2025]
Supanova Brisbane[2025]
Oz Comic Con Brisbane[2025]
Supanova Gold Coast[2025]

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES:

Gaming, Hobby & Model Expo (GhMX) Brisbane 2024 (November 23-24)[2024]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Brisbane (100th) 2024 (November 8-10)[2024]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Oz Comic Con Brisbane 2024 (September 14-15)[2024]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Gold Coast 2024 (April 13-14)[2024]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Melbourne 2024 (April 06-07)[2024]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Brisbane(November 11-12)[2023]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Gold Coast (April 15-16)[2023]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Oz Comic Con Brisbane (September 17-18)[2022]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Oz Comic Con Sydney (September 24-25)[2022]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Brisbane (November 5-6)[2022]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Gold Coast[2022]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Brisbane[2021]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Gold Coast[2018]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Toowoomba Comic Con[2018]
Guest Artist
Oz Comic Con Brisbane[2017]
Artist Alley
Haven Expo Mackay[2017]
Guest Artist
Toowoomba Comic Con[2017]
Guest Artist
Supanova Melbourne[2017]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Brisbane[2017]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Sydney[2017]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Gold Coast[2017]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Toowoomba Comic Con[2016]
Guest Artist
OZ Comic Con Brisbane[2016]
Artist Alley
Sugar City Comic Con - Mackay[2016]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Mackay Haven Expo[2016]
Star Wars Guest Artist
Guest Writer[2016]
Angus and Robertson Bookstore, Victoria Point
Supanova Gold Coast[2016]
Guest Artist and Speaker
PAX AUS[2015]
Developer Booth / Exhibitor on behalf of Halfbrick Studios
Supanova Brisbane[2015]
Artists Alley Guest Artist and Speaker
Star Wars Reads Day[2015]
Angus and Robertson Bookstore, Victoria Point
Mackay Haven Expo[2015]
Booth#4 Guest Artist
Supanova Sydney[2015]
Artist Alley #A005 Guest Artist
Supanova Melbourne[2015]
Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Gold Coast[2015]
Guest Artist and Speaker #A114
Armageddon Melbourne[2014]
Artist Alley #A112 Guest Artist
Brisbane Alternative Expo[Q3 2014]
Artist Exhibitor
Brisbane Alternative Expo[Q1 2014]
Artist Exhibitor
Oz Comic Con Brisbane[2014]
Guest Artist
Oz Comic Con Melbourne[2014]
Guest Artist
Oz Comic Con Sydney[2014]
Guest Artist
Supanova Adelaide[2014]
Artist Alley #A5 Guest Artist and Speaker
Supanova Brisbane[2014]
Artist Alley #A142 Guest Artist
Supanova Gold Coast[2014]
Artist Alley #A9 Guest Artist
Supanova Melbourne[2014]
Guest Artist
Supanova Sydney[2014]
Guest Artist
Supanova Brisbane[2013]
Guest Artist
PAX AUS Melbourne[2013]
Developer Booth / Exhibitor on behalf of The Binary Mill
Contrast Symphony[2009]
Guest Demo Artist
GenCon[2009]
Guest Speaker on behalf of Krome Studios
Supanova Brisbane[2009]
Guest Speaker on behalf of Krome Studios
Supanova Brisbane[2008]
Developer Booth / Exhibitor on behalf of Krome Studios