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When did you first get into drawing?
I have always drawn, I very vividly remember winning the High Spen Junior School art prize for my painting of sunflowers aged 6. I guess my fate was sealed.
Why did you choose to make fashion part of your inspiration?
I studied fashion design at University and have always been more drawn to drawing garments than making them. I really enjoy fashion's seasonality, it is always changing. There is always something fresh, new and contemporary, it's a constant source of visual stimulation.
What is your particular working day as a creative?
Caffeine. Then picking out imagery, runway content, reviewing screen shots from my research, to get inspiration and focus for the day ahead.
Typically I start with quick warm up sketches and experiments, before beginning more sustained drawings. I like to break up the day doing my creative house-keeping, scanning, digital editing, before returning to drawing. I find this freshens me up and gives me time to reflect. Then if something isn't quite working getting out into nature helps reset me.
What tools do you use when creating your images?
I have a background in woven textiles, and tactility is very important to me. I love the physical process of drawing in the moment.
What I really love is to mark make with traditional media, I love to not know what the end result will be, and not be certain what mark I am going to get each time. I enjoy using medium which reminds me of childlike play. So crayon, pastels, charcoal, and paint, allow me to have that sensation when creating.
Although my work is predominantly analogue/traditional in format, I do like combining my textured mark making with flat digital surface colour.
Who or what has influenced you over the years as an artist?
To start off it has to be Julie Verhoeven, her illustrations are what initially triggered my interest in fashion illustration and continue to be inspiring. I love Howard Tangye, Rob Unett, Claire Tabouret, Tracey Emin's figurative work and Holly Fulton's design drawings which are full of pattern and play. I have a thing for 60's style, Jean Shrimpton, Anna Karina and Mary Quant. I also adore Hedi Slimane and Pheobe Philo's design. For colour inspiration I look to textiles, Bernat Klein's abstract studies, Wes Anderson films and Karla Black's installations.
What advice do you have for younger artists looking to be part of this industry?
Be kind and be nice. Don't doubt yourself and tell yourself no. Keep being creative and put your work out there. Shy bairns get nout.
What are you drawing today? Music are you listening to? Books that you are reading? Favourite artist/designer at the moment?
I am currently working on some projects with local Scottish indie brands, and enjoying experimenting with beauty and lifestyle.
I always listen to music whilst drawing, I find it helps me focus and find my creative headspace. Tame Impala and Interpol are my favourite bands to draw to at this point in time. If drawing from a fashion show I always try to listen to the music from the show, I feel this impacts the marks I make and immerses me in the theatre and atmosphere of the show.
My favourite books to read are garden design books, they are complete escapism for me, they are so visual and easy to just pick up and put down. When I have more time on my hands I enjoy Margaret Attwood.
I really enjoy French style, Loewe, Celine, Chloe, however, the eclectic nature of British fashion is hard to beat, especially when it celebrates traditional craft and heritage; Charles Jeffrey, Molly Goddard, McQueen, and Burberry to name a few.