Some of nail artist Yulia Grigorjeva’s work comes with a trypophobia warning: her intricate designs often feature porous textures and entire microcosms trapped beneath a slick, clear lacquered coating. “I create customised sets of nails out of anything and everything I come across in my daily life that fascinates, repulses me, scares me,” says Grigorjeva, describing a portfolio of nail art that sees opaque insect wings (from insects that die naturally), fuzzy moss, shards of shells and various other natural detritus within its remit.

The Glasgow-based nail artist first started down this unique path as a way to help the people that came to sit in her chair. “I have always had clients who were pickers and struggled a lot with biting their skin or nails off. I knew it was psychological and connected with anxiety, so people experience a lot of shame when they can’t help but pick,” she explains. From there, she began creating functional 3D nail art which allowed her clients to fidget and play with as they pleased, and in some cases worked as a kind of exposure therapy.

Coming from a Russian background in Tallinn, Estonia, Grigorjeva grew up without much time or space to explore her creativity or identity. It wasn’t until her early twenties, as the world began to open up around her and she encountered people living outside the norms she had known, that Grigorjeva was introduced to new ways of creating, ultimately forming the artistic practice she has today. “I believe art and beauty are all about self-study and playfulness, not being scared to be too messy and letting yourself enjoy the beautiful as well as the ugly.” It’s a philosophy that underpins the artist’s entire practice.

Below, we talk to Yulia Grigorjeva, known online as yaduga, about her career, her thoughts on beauty, and what nail art she’d wear to continue the human race.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up? 

Yulia Grigorjeva: I am a self-employed artist coming from a Russian background in Tallinn, Estonia. In my childhood, I didn’t have much space or time to explore creative ways of life, as the educational environment back home was quite strict and structured. It was in my early twenties that I began to explore art within nail art through people I happened to meet that did not quite belong to the standard idea of expression I was used to.

What are you trying to communicate through your work? 

Yulia Grigorjeva: My work aims to create the union of the ‘beautiful’ and ‘ugly’ within the beauty standards, fluidity, and hopefully the opportunity to let go of fear and judgment from others of what nails are supposed to be. 

The co-creation of a custom set comes from vulnerability, and opening yourself up to new ways of expression, even though it is ‘just’ nails – a person holding your hands is not easy. Using insects (that die naturally), trypophobic textures and organic products in nails serves as exposure therapy for some, as well as for myself.

How did you get into it?

Yulia Grigorjeva: I have always had clients who were pickers and struggled a lot with biting their skin or nails off. I knew it was psychological and connected with anxiety, so people experience a lot of shame when they can’t help but pick. I started creating 3D nail art on the nails so they could fidget and play with whatever is on top of them, so that tricks you into thinking it’s OK to pick, because it’s a bit of a game and it’s fun and not shameful. This way, their habits would change or the tendency to pick and shame yourself for it would disappear completely. 

I also find it quite interesting to explore phobias, my own as well as my clients. I use insects that die naturally a lot in my work, as well as create a lot of textures that are quite uncomfortable to look at for most people.

What does beauty mean to you? 

Yulia Grigorjeva: To me, beauty is the process of observing with curiosity, playfulness, vulnerability and openness of every thing, being, idea or energy I come in contact with.

What is your current obsession?

Yulia Grigorjeva: Kirtan, playing my harmonium and sharing traditional Indian music with people.

When do you feel most beautiful? 

Yulia Grigorjeva: When I notice nature’s beautiful patterns in my own body and am able to not criticise them the way we are taught. I feel truly beautiful when I see myself in others.

What is the future of beauty? 

Yulia Grigorjeva: I believe it will be made possible for more people to see beauty and art in everything, not just in what is perceived to be beautiful. The future of beauty to me is seeing things from another person’s view and just allowing people to be, to exist with no judgment of your own but curiosity.

Are you optimistic about the future? 

Yulia Grigorjeva: Mostly. As one of my friends once put it, I trust that the future will be a little sexy so that keeps me going.

Imagine you've had an accident which causes you to lose your sense of smell. The doctors can’t return it fully but can give you the ability to smell one scent. What do you pick and why? 

Yulia Grigorjeva: Acetone. I am a nail artist after all – it always sobers you up.

You have the ability to live in a video game. Which would it be and why? 

Yulia Grigorjeva: The Last Guardian. I would love to experience the softness of it and the secrets of the mystical, strange land with my huge, magical pet from the perspective of a kid, just exploring the unknown.

It is the sixth day and you are creating humans. They can look however you want them to. What do they look like and why? 

Yulia Grigorjeva: Different coloured chrome skin, ever-changing abstract prints depending on their experience. Eyes would be the same; I believe eyes are always the way to the soul of the human.

You’ve opted to be cryogenically frozen in hopes of continuing the human race. When you wake up it’ll be your responsibility to kick-start the breeding. How would you do your nails on your first date?

Yulia Grigorjeva: French manicure with a Christmas hat on the ring finger, french toe nail extensions. I want my partner to see me at my funniest, so I know it's the right one.