PROUD as a Peacock

Award-winning nail artist, Anita Chahal-Millar, shares her passion for extreme styling & process behind this month’s Scratch cover

ALEX FOX REPORTS

P rolific in her mission to create stunning extreme nail posters, UK-based Anita Chahal-Millar has embraced nail competitions worldwide, and boasts 12 medals from Nailympia events in Germany, China, the USA and UK. One of her silver medal-winning works: her entry into the Nailympia London 2025 Extreme Nail Styling Poster (Division 3) online competition, is this month’s Scratch cover.

Anita Chahal-Millar

“My competition journey began in 2016, but stepped up a gear in 2020 when I started entering online competitions internationally,” Anita tells Scratch. “I entered my first

Nailympia in 2022 and have submitted works into a different location every year since. To date, I have three gold, seven silver and two bronze Nailympia medals, which I cherish. I also had my work featured on the front cover of Scratch in 2023, so I’m humbled to be given the opportunity again.”

Nailympia medals and Scratch covers are just two avenues of success that Anita has enjoyed, with previous achievements including third place in The Great Scratch Shoot Out nail photo competition and titles such as Nail Tech of the Year at various beauty industry awards. Her insights have also been featured on Scratch’s website and in the magazine. “I am very proud of my achievements,” Anita smiles. “Being able to share my work and knowledge on so many platforms is truly a gift.”

A fantastical fascination

Based in North Wales, Anita is semi-retired, with a select group of clients, and offers nail training on request. By her own admission, she is ‘addicted’ to creating extreme nail posters. “My time is taken up by looking after my family, two dogs, my mum’s business and working with my husband – who is the backbone of all my projects,” Anita shares. “He’s often heard saying,

‘I thought last time was the final one’ when I start a new poster. But I officially have the Nailympia bug – I can’t and won’t stop! Its competitions have helped me become the artist I am today.”

With her love for extreme nail shapes driving her forward, Anita is boundless in her exploration of nail art and structure. “My signature style is beautiful and unusual shapes that push me out of my comfort zone,” she reveals. “I’m inspired by many nail artists from across the globe, and their work encourages me to try new techniques, such as creating intricate 3D and 4D elements. I like to stretch the boundaries of what’s possible and with extreme nail styling, the sky’s the limit.”

Anita has also fully embraced Nailympia’s newest poster competition category: AI Nail Vision Poster, which allows the whole or parts of an entry to be created using AI tools. She acknowledges: “AI has opened up exciting creative possibilities, meaning artists can enhance images, refine details, transform backgrounds and explore new visual styles. This category has challenged me to develop fresh skills and embrace a different creative process.

“It involves an understanding of AI tools and how to write prompts to achieve the vision you have in mind. My first AI image was a huge learning curve, but looking back, I can see how my work has evolved. The more I experiment, the more I enjoy creating bold, powerful imagery.”

When asked how far she will take her passion for nail poster creation, Anita shares that she has no plans to leave the competition circuit. “On average, I create three posters per year,” she says. “For each competition, I do a lot of research to support my creativity, then I think outside the box to tell a story on nails. My aim is to create pieces that are unique yet showcase my signature style.”

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Anita plans to compete until she achieves her ultimate goal of winning gold medals across the globe. She is also excited about future collaborations, including a steampunk-inspired photo shoot. “My mission is to inspire nail artists to enter competitions like Nailympia, and never be afraid to put themselves out there,” she explains. “If you’re passionate, dedicated and willing to keep learning, anything is possible. Set your goals high, believe in yourself and never give up. The only person holding you back is you.”

COVER CREDITS Nail stylist & make-up artist: Anita Chahal-Millar Anita Chahal (Creative Designer Nails) @chahal8240

Model & hair stylist: Keira Chahal

Photographer: Russ Tierney www.splashpointphoto.co.uk /splashpointphoto @splashpointphoto

Project peacock

Inspired by the peacock: a timeless symbol of beauty, renewal, protection, confidence and self-love, Anita Chahal created an extreme design that celebrates the animal, and it features on this issue’s front cover. Sculpted L&P acrylic structures mirror the graceful arches of peacock feathers, while rich teal, green and gold tones reflect the bird’s vibrant plumage. Handcrafted acrylic crowns, rings and gold embellishments add depth and regal character.

“The peacock inspires me with its beauty and strength,” shares Anita. “I wanted to capture its elegance through dramatic structure, colour and detail, creating a design that also reflects my passion for extreme nail shapes. Every element was hand-sculpted with love, determination and precision to create true wow factor.”

Project in process

Anita notes that each of her extreme nail styles begins as a pencil sketch, before evolving through experimentation and refinement. Initially sculpting L&P acrylic bases, Anita allows the nail structures to dictate the placement of the artistic elements. Working on the first nail, she explores different materials, textures and techniques until her concept feels complete, then she carries this vision across the full set.

“My creative process is never fixed – it’s all about experimenting and letting the design evolve naturally,” she reveals. “My best ideas often come to me while I’m sculpting and testing different materials. Once the nails are complete, I focus on telling the full story through styling and photography, to bring the vision to life.”

Teamwork is essential for nail poster success according to Anita, who cites: “I work closely with photographer, Russ Tierney, whose understanding of my signature style and creative outlook has grown over many years of collaboration. For this peacock photo shoot, Russ introduced smoky blue and green tones into the background, creating depth while complementing the nail design and styling. The effect enhanced both the model and nails, bringing a sense of elegance and drama to the finished photos.

“I’m lucky to work with a photographer who truly understands my vision,” Anita continues. “We never do a trial shoot; it’s all or nothing on the day. Sometimes we capture the perfect image in two hours, and other times it takes much longer, but we’re always working towards the perfect shot. For me, every detail matters, and having someone who shares that mindset makes all the difference.”

Time tactics

Extreme nail artistry and composing a strong poster image requires a huge time investment. “This peacock-inspired creation for Nailympia London 2025 took approximately 60 hours to complete, with every element handcrafted from scratch,” Anita explains. “Working within an online competition format allows me the freedom to create at my own pace, ensuring every detail is perfected before the photo shoot takes place.”