Since graduating from Central St Martins with a Masters in Womenswear, I’ve worked in the fashion industry, first as a designer in Milan with Giorgio Armani and Moschino, then in the US for Anthropologie. I’ve taught at schools throughout the U.S., wrote a novel, Silk for the Feed Dogs, set in the international fashion industry and report on fashion for FashionUnited.com.
And I draw. Every chance I get. Whether it’s capturing burlesque dancers at the weekly Drink and Draw in my local dive bar, snatching the gestures of the Frappuccino-sipping Starbucks regulars or sketching favorite runway looks during Fashion Week, I combine a former designer’s eye for detail with an obsession for line and an appreciation of a dynamic inky splash. I aim for a synergy of speed, style and storytelling.
The year of magical drawing was 2021 when society shut down and a renewed attachment to illustration came out of the mourning period for me. While art is considered a relaxing activity for many, it’s more akin to extreme sport for me: the breathless hand/eye coordination of drawing a live model, braving the peril of flying ink during a 2- minute pose, the reliance on instinct, importance of stretching, the adrenaline kick of sticking the landing, or navigating the anatomical landscape by breaking it down into shapes so that I don’t lose my way and have nowhere to sleep for the night.