Tell us a little bit about yourself! When did you start creating?
As with most children, as soon as I could hold a pencil! We are born creative and can easily lose it without encouragement. I remember when I was little, saying I wanted to be an artist or a writer or a poet or an architect or a teacher. I have managed two or three on my list!
I spent years working as a graphic designer and although I could draw reasonably well by some standards (some clients wanted to use my drawings), I yearned to be able to draw as well as the amazing illustrators who I commissioned. This, a love of writing, and oodles of ideas for children’s books, led to me do a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art.
How would you describe your artistic style in three words?
- Limited palettes
- Bold shapes
- Flexible – by this I mean, adapting your visual language to fit the story or brief.
Can you walk us through your typical creative process? Do you sketch first or dive straight in?
I always start off by exploring the thing I am drawing, preferably from life or moving images, especially if I feel I don’t have enough understanding of the form – if I’ve never drawn a goat I will draw lots of goats to get a sense of how they move, their character and how they appear from different angles. I then work on building characters (which are partly informed by life-drawing and partly by the imagination).
Once I feel I have a good enough grasp of the characters I work on how they will appear in different scenarios. I am a bit impatient so I might flit a bit between these stages, constantly developing until something concrete starts to form. Often it’s not until you start to build the dummy book that you get a better sense of the colour palette required, so it’s useful to be a bit flexible.
My sketchbooks are not a thing of beauty, and I often look at friends’ sketchbooks with envy. I use mine more a creative tool – I throw all sorts at them, the good, the bad and the in between.
What creative conundrum have you had in the past six months and how did you solve it?
I worked on a job which was pretty daunting in its scale and intricacy. In all honesty, if I had thought too much about it when I accepted the brief, I would have doubted I would have the patience for something like that. I took it one day at a time and didn’t overthink it and actually found it really enjoyable. Most of the work was over Christmas, so I had the TV in the background and my mini schnauzer under the desk for company while I did it. It is always good to stretch your skills, and Lucie is good at encouraging us to try different things.
What can a client do to help you when briefing?
Going from being a graphic designer who commissioned some amazingly talented illustrators, to being the commissioned illustrator is interesting. I love a brief with a few simple parameters because it gives something concrete to work with. Too much freedom and I wouldn’t know where to start, but too little is creatively constraining. As a client, if you can let go a little and don’t have too many pre-conceptions, you will be surprised at what might happen.
Draw yourself as a character in your favourite book, tv show or film!
I’ve got lots of favourite books and films, but I am channelling my frustrated athlete by starring in Chariots of Fire with my mini schnauzer, Pedro. We go running a few times a week, although a fair amount of the walk is spent sniffing wee and barking at other dogs (Pedro, not me). If it wasn’t for my dodgy knees and feet, my general clumsiness (and, ahem, slow speed) I’m sure we would have a world record by now…
Time for some quick-fire questions…
What is your drink of choice?
I’m northern, so it has to be tea, milk, no sugar. Specifically, Pantone shade 726.
What is a song that makes you want to get up and dance?
Faithless, Insomnia
How would you describe your agent, Lucie Ludds, in three words?
- Energetic
- Brilliant
- Caring
And finally, what’s the best piece of advice you’d give to an illustrator just starting out?
I know everyone says this, but for most illustrators it really will take time before you feel like you are getting anywhere. Often it is about being in the right place at the right time, so keep showing your work, sending it out and going to shows and book fairs. More importantly, keep developing your work and trying different things. Finishing an undergraduate or masters degree is just the beginning of your creative journey.
