Studio Life: Getting to know... Bec!

Hi Bec! Can you tell us a little bit about where you gather your inspiration from?

I definitely prefer to turn to reference books for inspiration.  Especially books on patterns from around the world -  Indian textiles, Middle Eastern architecture or tile designs etc.

I also have some beautiful Art Nouveau and old calligraphy books that are really lovely for inspiration.  I get far more inspired using actual print for reference,  looking through old archives, or going to have a look around the V&A, things like that.  

But I do use social media like Instagram or websites like Pinterest to stay on trend and keep involved in what’s current in the design world.

And how does your working process usually start?

Generally with a good amount of research, I like to know what the florals or characters or elements of the artwork are going to look like before starting to draw.  Once I have some references and know the kind of technique I want to go with, then I’ll have a rough sketch of shapes, patterns, layouts etc.  The artwork usually always changes when I then ink up the drawings, adding in more detail and then again once scanned into Illustrator and I start playing around with colour and pace.  Its always a process! 

What design tools can't you live without?

Absolutely my fine liners! Almost all of my work is inked up in black fineliner - there are literally pots of hundreds of pens on my desk at all times!  0.05mm or 0.1mm unpins are usually the weapons of choice, although I do also love a nice brush pen.  I purchased some really lovely Japanese ones online recently that are beautiful to work with.

Who are your illustration heroes?

I love the paintings of Gustav Klimt and anything from the Art Nouveau era mostly.  Romantic, detailed ‘La Boheme’ style illustrations and Toulouse Lautrec posters.  My illustration heroes are Tim Burton for his inky Concept Art and Mary Blair, a Disney concept artist, for her use of colour and bolder illustration style.  My current favourite illustrators are Dinara Mirtalipova and Lara Hawthorne - I just love the detail in their work.

(One of Bec's favourite artists, Gustav Kilmt)

Who would be your dream client?

It would be incredible to see my work in Liberty’s one day, maybe patterns on a beautiful scarf collection or rugs or bedding.  I’d love a big homeware collection in somewhere as historical as that.

What are you currently reading?

I am actually re reading the Harry Potter books again at the moment! Haha I don’t know if it’s because it’s Autumn now and getting colder and rainier, but it just makes me want to get a cup of tea and read something magical and fantastical!

I also have a non fiction book ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker on the go too, which it really interesting when I’m in the mood for something a little more serious.

What is your favourite piece of artwork you have on display at home?

We have just redecorated my studio at home so slowly putting some artworks up on the walls, I particularly love a print called ‘Rainforest’ by Lara Hawthorne and ’The Theatre’ by Dinara Mirtalipova.

('Rainforest' by Lara Hawthorne)

What are your fave things outside of work?

My husband and I have our three dogs, Billie the ‘Jug’ and Bettie and Bobbie the dachshunds - we pretty much just live in their house to take care of them!  But we love taking them out to new places, or for weekends in Mersea - we come as a 5 piece!

Aside from life as a pup-parent, I spend a lot of time with friends and family, we’re so very lucky to have a really big group of both so weekends are always super busy and always involve a lot of food :)