meet nellie | riónce ripple fund: wave [I] 2025 case study

some people walk into a space and shift the whole energy without even trying. that’s nellie rowe. a musician, model, and multi-hyphenate creative with a sharp eye, a soft heart, and a whole lot of soul.

she joined the first riónce ripple fund programme in early 2025, and by the time it wrapped, she’d done far more than tick boxes. she’d brought a room to life, built new creative bridges, and shifted the way she sees herself and her work.

life drawing, life changing

her biggest milestone? curating and hosting her first ever life drawing event.

“i was so nervous,” she said, laughing. “i had all these doubts. no one’s gonna come, it’s not gonna work, what if it flops? but it didn’t. it just flowed.”

she gathered a handful of photographers, some collaborators, and filled the space with warmth, art, and ease.

“people left so happy. it was a reminder that i can do this. that it doesn’t have to be perfect, just honest.”

ease over effort

one of the things that changed most for nellie during her time at riónce was her approach to creativity.

“normally, planning a shoot or event would take so much time — finding venues, budgeting, chasing people. but having access to the studio made everything smoother. the stress just dropped.”

and the local factor made a real difference too:

“it was so close. i didn’t need a train or a big plan — i could just go. no drama, no overthinking. that was huge for me.”

a shift in self-belief

beneath all the practical wins, something deeper was unfolding — confidence.

“i started seeing my work as something that’s happening now, not just something i’ll do in five years. riónce helped me see my creative life as something that’s already alive — not just a future version of me i’m always chasing.”

there’s a calm clarity in her voice now. a groundedness.

“i’ve always known i’m creative. but now, i’m acting like it.”

from strangers to studio family

when asked what stood out most about the programme, her answer came quickly:

“the network. definitely the network.”

the ripple fund brought together seven creatives — strangers, at first — and within weeks, a quiet kinship had formed.

“it sounds mad, but it feels like a second home,” she said. “even though i didn’t know everyone well, i knew i could ask for help; and that if they needed me, i’d be there too. that kind of support is rare.”

connections kept growing long after the events ended. photographers from her event followed up, new collaborations started forming, and people began asking when the next gathering would be.

confidence is contagious

there’s a story she shared during our chat that stuck with us. a few weeks into the programme, she remembered a passing suggestion by her program co-ordinator:

“you told me to just walk into a modelling studio. i actually did it the next day. got five rejections. but i wasn’t even phased, because i’d never have done that before. it gave me guts.”

proof that space matters

“having the space took away all the excuses,” she said.

“when it’s there, when it’s yours, suddenly it’s not if i can do this, it’s how i’ll do it. it gave me peace. and freedom. and the push i needed.”

this is the very heart of the ripple fund - not just inspiration, but infrastructure. the kind of support that quietly transforms the way artists move through the world.

the legacy continues

even now that the programme has ended, nellie’s still part of the family.

“you’re not getting rid of me,” she grinned. “i’ll paint the studio, tidy it, hold the keys while you’re on holiday, (she said to oleta) whatever you need. i’m in.”

and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way :)

-

want to see more of nellie’s work?

find her at @nellmae_