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To celebrate the release of our new White Logo Collection puzzles, we're getting to know some of the talented artists who illustrated and designed the artworks!
This week, we spoke with Bethany Lord, the illustrator behind our wonderful Dream Picnic puzzle. We hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as we did!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a freelance illustrator, based in London, in the town of Kingston Upon Thames. I graduated in Illustration from The Arts University Bournemouth in 2018 and most recently from Kingston University in 2019 with an MA in Communication Design: Illustration. I have been freelancing in Illustration for just over a couple of years working in children’s book illustration, maps, editorial illustration, and packaging illustration. I draw on my experiences from traveling and experiencing different cultures, to create new pieces of work. I love to read, play the guitar, watch movies, cook and bake in my spare time.
What made you want to be an illustrator?
I’ve always been drawing since a very young age. I would enter every drawing competition and randomly create logos and pictures in my room.
My whole family is really creative and they always pushed me to pursue what I enjoyed. I took art and photography at school and since then I haven’t stopped.
Travelling is clearly a big inspiration for your work - in what ways does it inspire you?
I love seeing new parts of the world, different cultures and places I don’t usually get to visit. I think it’s so important to travel and experience things out of your comfort zone.
There are so many places to see, so there’s always new inspiration. Just getting out of the house and driving somewhere new can spark a new idea.
Do you create art as you travel, or do you make it when you come back home?
I feel like I never have time to create art whilst I travel, and I also like to use that time to really turn off and step away. I take hundreds of photos and always keep a list on my phone of ideas so when I am home I can look back and get re-inspired.
A goal of mine is to take a drawing trip somewhere and use the time to create art whilst in a new environment.
What is the process you go through when you create a new illustration?
Typically I use Procreate drawing software on the iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil.
I usually start out researching and finding reference pictures to help me create a draft which I draw up in black and white. I then redraw overtop and fill the illustration with colour and finish by adding in any extra small details.
If need be I will then use adobe software such as Photoshop or Indesign to format the work correclty and make it ready for print or publication.
What's your greatest achievement so far?
I think my first children’s book being published was a really proud moment for me, especially after working so hard on it alongside studying for my masters.
I am also very proud of my illustrations being turned into puzzles! It's exciting that people will be piecing together my own artwork.
What is your favourite place you have visited and why?
We did a mega 5000 mile road trip down the West Coast of America starting in Seattle which is one of my favourite cities, stopping off in places like the Grand Canyon and Los Angeles. I loved being able to visit so many places and get a taster for where I would like to travel back to in the future for longer. The contrast of being in a city one day, and the beach the next is always so exciting.
As soon as border restrictions are lifted, where is the first place you plan to travel next?
Too many places!
I'm desperate to travel back to America and explore more of California, go back to Los Angeles, and visit some more national parks such as Joshua tree.
I would also love to go to Italy, to drive along the Amalfi coast and visit all of the beaches and small Italian towns.
Australia is also on the bucket list!
You can find more information about Bethany on her website.
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