Fille Du Cirque Russe

I was born in 1982 and grew up in Richmond, Surrey. From an early age I was interested in art, and decided I was going to be an illustrator at the age of 5. I’m currently based in South East London.

 

I graduated from the University of Brighton in 2004 with a BA in Illustration. Last year, In 2010, I was one of the artists selected for the London Elephant Parade, where my design, painted onto a model of a baby elephant was displayed in Covent Garden before being auctioned off for charity. In 2011 my first children’s book was published (I illustrated the Cambridge book in the Unlocked Guides series) and the Wales guide will be out in 2012. I also designed an album cover (for Rory More and the singer Rumer) and completed several editorial and website illustrations. 

 

Past projects include Christmas cards for Paperchase, my work being featured in Computer Arts Projects, The Times and Illustration and Play (a book on artists who use collage in their work including Rob Ryan!). 

 

My work is a light hearted look at the world through female eyes, often with a warm nostalgic view of the past fused with the present. The main inspiration for my artwork comes from the natural world, fashion, the 1920’s, 60’s psychedelic posters, fairytales and often just pure fantasy. I like mixing these different elements together and making them into something unexpected, eye catching and beautiful. It’s important to me that my pieces tell a story even if it’s just a simple image of a girl lost in the forest. My pieces have a handmade aesthetic by using a variety of materials including coloured card, paint and fabric. By using bright colours and organic elements my work always has an uplifting feel and although it sounds cheesy I hope my work brightens up someone’s day.