Its high time we checked out a Londoner taking part at May’s ILLUSTRATED 2015 … She’s representing the N17 postcode and one of the latest exhibitors into this years lineup. As the only multi-integrated designer at this years show, her recognisable style reflects her tapestry of skills, with a high profile client list including Nike, Samsung, Renault, French Connection, Asos and Dulux, we chatted with her to find out more …
Do you think being a Londoner gives you a distinct advantage and added confidence when up against ‘out of towners’ trying to break into the capitals creative industry ?
I think it does because essentially you’re working from the inside out where you have the industry in abundance really, I feel in that respect I’m pretty fortunate… But I’d like to think that even if I was remote I’d have the same confidence and determination to carry on.
As a multi-integrated designer, you work across illustration, branding, photography, art direction and more, we understand the need to be diverse in your creative offering but where does your heart really lie ?
My heart is in Illustration, photography and art direction really, essentially illustration has always been a huge part of me becoming a creative. Photography is a great creative outlet too – it’s a break but not really, a raw form of creative expression, I love street photography and gigs where I like the challenge of being swamped in a crowd trying to get ’that shot’, the idea of introducing people to a visual world letting them see it through my eyes if that makes sense. I have admiration for art direction because it’s more of a collaborative effort, working with different people with various creative skills to get something to work, really getting into a concept that may not necessarily need my creative hands but requires a creative mindset, I find enjoyment in this.
It appears you utilise various hand drawn and digital techniques when compiling your illustrations, can you chat us through the process behind bringing a vision to life ?
Either tend to sketch the idea roughly or in detail (depending what feels right) then go straight to the computer to produce it digitally, various techniques occur, depending on what I’m illustrating so that means usually switching between Photoshop and Illustrator. From there it’s a steady process till I get the results I want, I like playing with textures, bold colours and clean lines.
Much of your illustrative works seem to bare a street-art hallmark in particular ‘Doom’ and ‘Batty’ (pictured), have you dabbled !?
Haha! Yup dabbled in the scene doing it myself when I was really young but that stopped quite prematurely, saying that I grew up to appreciate lots of street-artists along the way, friends with some too, you could say that my style pays homage although I don’t do it anymore, but who know’s… may start doing it again.
How important is it to make socio-political statements with your personal works ?
With the way the world is constantly changing it’s pretty important especially when something causes you to question what’s going on, be upset, happy, joyous etc as a result… Being able to communicate through just visuals alone can be pretty powerful stuff and I think when you’re able to convey certain aspects in your work you not only have a closer bond to what you’ve done but other people may relate too.
Whats next in the pipeline ?
Hopefully a solo exhibition, I would like to show people what I’m really about through the work that I do so stay posted & until such time – come see me @ ILLUSTRATED 2015 in a few weeks!
See Just in a few weeks @ ILLUSTRATED 2015 – get your tix here!
