Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, Elvi Nichols is the youngest of five siblings. She was raised in a vibrant culture filled with family, music, soccer, and faith. In 1998, she moved to the United States, settling in Tallahassee, Florida, where she spent 14 years working as an Assistant Teacher at Advent Parish Day School.

Elvi's journey as an artist began in 2011 when she took her first painting class at Lafayette Park. She instantly fell in love with the process, using art as a way to recreate memories of places and people that shaped her life. After retiring in 2015, painting became her full-time passion, leading to multiple exhibitions and accolades.