Milk Magazine - January 2016
Thank you to Milk Magazine for their feature on me, out in their January issue, what a fantastic way to kick off the new year :)
(below is the interview in English)
Questions:
1. Could you briefly introduce yourself?
I am British born and studied a Bsc in Clothing Design and Manufacture at university in Scotland. Shortly after graduating, I moved to China to work with a clothing manufacturing company. A year later, I discovered Hong Kong and fell in love with the city. I switched careers into Fine Art, managing a contemporary gallery here. It was during this time that I started to build my illustration portfolio, eventually starting my own company and working full time as an artist.
2. How do you describe your work?
My work is the product of many delicate layers, built from watercolour and ink washes with pen and pencil details. I am always striving to create a balance between representing beauty and strength, this is often manifested in female subjects.
3. Why did you move to Hong Kong for work as an illustrator?
I wanted to experience a new culture and open myself to new experiences and influences in my work. I believe that travel is one of the best resources for creativity, and Hong Kong is a great platform to do that. It is also a young scene, artistically and especially for fashion illustrators, which is useful for building a new business.
4. What do you think of the best thing of Hong Kong & UK respectively?
The best thing for me in Hong Kong is the food and also, the mountains. I spend a great deal of time in nature here and they are significant to my mental wellbeing.
In the UK, the best thing is my friends and family there. I also enjoy the museum culture immensely.
5. What are your inspiration sources? How do you keep yourself creative?
I refer to a lot of fashion imagery, so I peruse fashion blogs and instagram accounts often. I also go running a lot, as a way to sift through ideas in my head.
6. Which places do you recommend for people who love fashion & arts in Hong Kong?
There are a lot of contemporary galleries blossoming in Hong Kong nowadays and I think it is wonderful to view other artist’s work. I like to visit galleries and wherever possible, speak to the artists themselves. For fashion, I love the PMQ and what they have achieved there, fostering an art and design hub for independent designers and artisans.
7. You have worked in Mainland China & Hong Kong for quite a long time. So what do you think of the Arts development & talents there?
I have been in HK now for nearly eight years and have been extremely fortunate in my timing, I feel that I arrived as the art scene in HK was beginning to really build significant momentum. I have witnessed a substantial growth in the number of galleries here, and the arrival of Art Basel a few years ago really put us on the map as a notable international art hub, which in turn spurred the creation of many satellite events. Around that, other creative endeavors blossom and are more widely supported and available. Creativity breeds creativity and to be able to be a part of such an exciting time is really special.
For me, the Occupy movement in 2014 truly highlighted what an enormous amount of talent this city has to offer. Here, we experienced the largest social movement that Hong Kong has ever seen, and the streets were filled with creative messages from artists expressing their opinions in a diverse array of mediums. This prompted the creation of the Umbrella Movement Visual Archives and Research Collection and the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK sought work to display too.
I feel that HK has a long and prosperous journey ahead and it is wonderful to be a part of that.
8. What are your current favourite things?
Running, I am an avid trail runner and regularly run ultra marathons, I recently completed Oxfam Trailwalker for the third time. Running brings me peace, helps me feel connected to nature and gives me a break from the hectic pace of the city.
My other favourite things are cats (I have three), and my twin Goddaughters and other small children that I am blessed to have in my life. Kids have a wonderful view of the world and I like to participate in that :)
9. Who do you think is the most stylish person in the world?
Emma Watson, for me, is incredibly stylish; not just for her aesthetic, but also because of her core values and the way that she utilises her fame for the greater good. That said, I think each person has the ability to be the most stylish person in their world.
10. What is your plans for the future?
Next year I am planning to start running a series of illustration workshops and to also launch my online store, selling prints and other merchandise. I also plan to travel as much as I possibly can.