What are you inspired by with your drawings and illustrations?
I like objects and the stories they tell, especially if they are related to emotions or the history of something or somebody. For illustration, I really love Jean Cocteau, and the painters Elizabeth Painton and Chantal Joffe. I also really borrow from the techniques of Andy Warhol’s line drawings, which I love.
Why did you choose this as a career path?
I think because I found it really joyful - seeing the beauty in life. Because I can get quite depressed at times, it helps to draw the beautiful things in life and then communicate that to other people. Sharing what it is to be human, I guess.
What is it about your work that you love?
I love the physical act of drawing and thinking about what I’d like to create. When it came to working with Lulu, I love that she’s so imaginative and thoughtful and takes her work from so many sources. It was really nice to be able to push myself more and see how far I could go. Working with Lulu was one of my nicest illustration commissions.
Could you talk us through where the idea came from for the 3D flowers?
It was a real collaboration with Lulu. She had the idea for these flowers that never die for a while but didn’t know how they should look. To begin with she wanted them to be half card and half real flowers, a bit like Cecil Beaton’s set designs. She likes that surrealist element – pretend versions of the real thing. We tried first with a rose bowl but that never really worked, then we went for the urn from other drawings I’d done of some ferns. So I just adapted that and then it worked really well.
How did you create the designs?
The process is borrowed from Andy Warhol - a very basic print-making technique. You draw the design first in pencil on tracing paper then attach it with tape to a piece of hot pressed smooth watercolour paper then ink it up bit by bit with a dip pen and black waterproof ink. Then you press it down so you are doing a repeat print. Once it’s dried I fill it in with a loose wash of watercolour inks, which are quite intense colours. Because it’s quite a hit and miss process you get these charming blobby bits that you can keep if you’re happy with them. I used the same technique with the lips and other drawings. The motifs were borrowed from Elsa Schiaparelli, another Lulu favourite.
Where do you hope these pieces end up?
I think it’s so lovely seeing photographs of the flowers in people’s houses. It’s such a nice idea and so special. They’re not exorbitantly expensive either so even if you’re not feeling flush you might be able to treat yourself. Plus they add a sense of grandeur to any house, so I like that too.
Lulu loves is about championing female creatives, what does that mean to you?
It means a lot! At the event I did in the Lulu store, it occurred to me how powerful women can be when they get together. One of the things I admire about Lulu is she is so open and honest, for example talking about mental health or being a woman - she leads by example. Lulu is also so generous to the people she champions – pushing them creatively and she really shares her power.