SEVEN years ago, after the birth of son Fletcher, Warwick artist Nikki Malone was told she had leukaemia.

She would later discover it was unlikely to ever go away, leaving her and her family with the constant threat and a medicine cabinet full of potions to keep the blood disease at bay.

Things improved, the doses began to work and blood tests came up clear, until December last year when it was discovered the illness was back.

Once again, life became a juggling act for Nikki, with more medications and trying to lead as stress-free a life as possible.

All this comes as Nikki's art career begins to flourish.

Giving away her teaching career, Nikki began to focus more on her art, giving children lessons after school.

These proved so popular other doors began to open.

"I had a painting in a cafe in Brisbane,” Nikki said.

"The owners called me and said they'd been getting a lot of comments about it and asked if I'd consider going down to teach a class.

"From there, the ball just started rolling.”

Word spread and soon Nikki was teaching classes in Tenterfield, Inverell, Brisbane and at home in Warwick.

"An art career can be so hard to break into,” she said.

"I find it hard to believe how it's all fallen into place.

"It allows me the opportunity to earn a living at my own pace, which is so important right now.

"If I need a break I can take it.”

Nikki said her method of teaching was to impart the basics and guidelines to allow students to improve at home.

"You want your students to have the feeling of success, that they're getting somewhere,” she said.

"I teach students how to bring in all the basic elements to keep from being overwhelmed.

"For me, art has been all about those 'aha!' moments, when things come together and you climb to the next level.”

With her artworks adorning walls in homes and businesses around the state, Nikki is in demand.

There are struggles ahead, but positive and focused, she's ready to meet each challenge.