Illustration Collaboration: Scarlett Rebecca

Scarlett Tierney is an ambitious, young illustrator based in the East of England with a background in Fashion & Textiles. We were first drawn to her thoughtful, detailed portraiture from her personal projects and are so, so pleased to see that as well as making detailed still life drawings of our jewellery and accessories, she has also chosen to depict a character - a true “Aviary Girl” who she imagined would wear our wares.

As well as clearly being able to see how talented an illustrator Scarlett Rebecca is, we wanted to know a bit more about who she is, and how she works, so we asked her a few questions after she had completed her beautiful series of illustrations in response to our trinkets and treasures…

First of all, tell us a little bit about who you are, what you do, and if and where you studied.

Hello *waves* I am Scarlett, I’m 23 and I live in lovely Bedfordshire in a cozy little house that desperately needs a cat. I like to describe myself as a ‘fledgling’ illustrator, just beginning my journey into the world of illustration. I studied fashion and textile design but decided to move towards surface design and then illustration because I love drawing! I have no illustration training but heaps of enthusiasm which I think makes up for it. I also run workshops for children and adults, and teach textiles here and there. I love to collaborate with people and share skills!

Who and what have been your main influences and inspirations that have helped you to develop such a beautiful, delicate yet distinctive illustration style in such a competitive market?

Thank you! I am quite an impatient person when it comes to my work at the moment (I think it’s a phase). I used to love making intricate illustrations with fabric and thread but that takes too long! Drawing is so immediate, and it really makes you feel connected to the work because you’ve painstakingly drawn every single aspect. Plus I love the texture of pencil. I’m quite scared of colour so my illustrations are often quite muted and I’m always worried I’ll overwork a drawing so they have that unfinished look. I’ve always worked very realistically  but I’m breaking away from that now, adding aspects of pattern into my work.

Some artists who inspire me: Julia Pott, Gemma Correll, Quentin Blake, John Cuneo, Mervyn Peake, Jenny Hart, Deidre Scherer, Rob Ryan… and Harriet Gray & Gemma Milly!

Do you live more in the past, or more in the future?

Both! I like to revel in the past and get excited for the future, but always make time for enjoying the now!

Where do you work from, and do you have any rituals before beginning a new piece of work?

I’m lucky enough to live in a two bedroom house right now where the spare room is my studio. It’s got a lovely bookcase (I have a book obsession.. I need them!), a cozy sofa bed, about a million pens and pencils and a lovely large desk.

I think Gemma Correll’s ‘Never Ending Cycle of Creative Woe’ describes perfectly my creative process. Firstly I have a cup of tea and then procrastinate for a bit, research in my lovely book collections, work on some designs, congratulate myself, procrastinate more and then rush to be finished for the deadline. I always try to figure a way to get people into a design because I love portraiture.

Describe a typical day in the studio.

Tea, look at my to-do list, twitter, email, look in one of my lovely books, tidy, tea, do some drawing, get uber frustrated, have a cry, another tea, sharpen a pencil, feel better, twitter, cake, more drawing, high five, cross things off on the to-do list with a flourish, tea.

What keeps you pushing forward and making new work?

I just don’t think it’s ever really crossed my mind not to…

How have you found collaborating with us on this project? Would you work across creative disciplines again?

It’s been wonderful, I’ve been so inspired by the gorgeous treasures I was working from, and I think our styles really worked well together. It was fab to run with a design with no restraints. I love collaborating, it keeps you fresh and opens up your creativity, it’s great to have a challenge. I’m just sad it’s over.

And finally the most important questions…

Favourite hot drink? Tea. Strong, splash of milk and a wet spoon of sugar.
Favourite ‘real’ drink? Baileys or a nice cold cider.
Rural or urban? Rural.
Cats or dogs? Cats, cats, cats, cats, cats!

Find Scarlett Rebecca online:

http://scarlettrebecca.co.uk

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Scarlett’s work is also currently available at the Letchworth Arts Centre Christmas Fair from now until Christmas, as well as the We Are Bedford pop up shop until mid December.