Since before she was a teenager, Nicole Manno’s passion always fell on the side of art. Whether painting, drawing, sketching, or just good-old doodling, Nicole always seemed to be creating
art in one way or another. True to this day, Nicole is constantly making, creating and repeatedly pushing the boundaries of her traditional art training and education.

With a degree in Apparel Marketing from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Nicole’s
artistic skill set continues to grow and consistently impresses through her unique and creative,
outside the box art projects.

After working several corporate fashion jobs in NYC, Nicole eventually established herself
in the industry and with a partner, decided to open her own company, representing clothing
lines to many of the popular department stores that today have become house-hold names.

Five1Five, Inc thrived for over 10 years before deciding to close it’s doors so both partners
could start families, which ironically introduced an entirely new creative role, mothering
her two young boys, Jack (now 9) and Luc (5).

Today, Nicole lives in Fairfield, CT, stays active in the community, schools and yup, is still creating unique original artwork for people to enjoy. She’s been recognized in several publications, fashion sites and trending blogs for her painting of products and accessories.

All of this has led to the launch of Better Off Painted.