FASHION ILLUSTRATOR | POPPY

Poppy is a London based painter and fashion illustrator, who after studying Illustration at London College of Fashion has found herself with clients such as VOGUE, Selfridge, The Edit and New a Porter amongst many others.

While Poppy has exhibited solo shows in Proud Gallery, she has also played a role in group exhibitions at Oxo Gallery. Her most recent shows include ‘Kate Moss’ Iconic Looks’ and ‘Fashion Flora’ for SHOWstudio.

How do you define a studio?

I think a studio is just, its really difficult to, it’s a space where you feel, for me, it’s a calm environment. Somewhere that I can just completely, because I’m quite a chaotic person, somewhere that I can be completely zoned in and calm, that’s what is the main thing for me, I have to feel completely relaxed in order to create.

What elements are most important when it comes to creating that mood?

It’s a mental thing, just zoning in and having some really nice light is really important for me, so really nice light, it has to be quiet. I can’t really share with people, so I like to be on my own. I am quite chaotic with the way I work but I still need some stuff to be orderly, so it has to be a good space where I can out all of my paint and a good, I have to have my work hanging so it can all dry and I have to just be able to sit back and think, just a comfortable environment.

I’ve always kind of I know it may not be super professional but just blue tacked things onto the walls, but my boyfriend his studio [which I share] has wooden beams and basically what he’s done is built clips for me to hang my work, which is great.

When it comes to collaboration within a studio space and this option to collaborate with people, do you think that it would be beneficial to artists in London?

I think all artists love to collaborate in some ways, its a difficult one because for me, I haven’t found a collaboration yet, I would say that I am a bit of a loner with the way that I work but I think, I’ve exhibited with other artists which I think works really well, and that’s a collaboration in itself, so you’ve got input on how people visualise a space and how they visualise their artwork set out for people to come in and just buy it, as well. It is interesting in that sense, exhibiting with other people, I think that’s a really amazing thing to do, and other artistic collaborations, I know my friends they do many but I think you need someone kind of on your wavelength.

I think its really dependant on what you’re working on, its really kind of, people can work with collaborations anywhere and like you said, you’ve got all these different artists and you have to cater the space for different types of people, it’s quite a mind-blowing thing. I think it’s very dependent, you could have quite a few rooms to do that if you’ve got the budget.

What do you believe the future of studio spaces looks like, for London?

I don’t really know, I am hoping that London will cater more for artists obviously because there are some people that are really fighting the corner for creatives, like you guys. I think has got a lot more difficult in terms of finding a space where you feel, I mean even just looking online and seeing whats available, it is pretty dire out there. I think, I like to think that I’m an optimist so I hope that you know, spaces are more thought out and artists are more celebrated in that sense, I hope that hopefully if the prices kind of, it is all about the economy, its difficult I don’t know if I can predict but I am hopeful, with more spaces available. I think what is most important is that we’re not, as a group, I wouldn’t say that we’re high maintenance, we just want nice light and a good box of space, it doesn’t need to be absolutely huge we just want a nice box room with good light, that’s perfect for me. Hopefully, things will be thought out, in that sense a bit later on because it is so important to have creatives, they contribute to the cultural economy. That’s really what London is about, celebrating everyone’s individuality as well as everyone working together, but you also need people to bring something new.

How do you think artists could communicate or collaborate with planners and developers when it comes to creating new studio spaces?

Just talking. That is all I can think of, just meeting people. Understanding what both parties want from one another, like we are now, just sitting at a table talking about it. And also, obviously artists are visual as well, so they can help draw out scenarios and things like that but me personally, I’m not a very 3D person, I don’t think in that sort of sense, so its kind of just like talking about what you want out of a studio, and them getting on board and saying what can be achieved.

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It is an interesting concept to introduce the idea of a visual conversation. This enabling both artists and developers to communicate effectively, and express themselves in the way they feel most confident. This may open doors for a completely new form of conversation, the age of the visual conversation.

How can visual art merge the gap between creating a conversation between developers and artists?