 Collyer's work was known for its shapes, rich colours, and soft rhythms.Her paintings were rarely figurative and did not focus on people; her favourite subjects were flowers, the forest, riverscapes, nature, old houses, villages, and churches, as in "Afternoon, the Village of Cap-à-l'Aigle Overlooking the St. Lawrence River, 1950".Although Nora was aware of social problems and volunteered in hospitals, these concerns were not depicted in any of her paintings, and she did not use her painting as a direct vehicle for social commentary.