GFW 2014: Tuesday 3rd June

I'm glad to have spent the whole Best Of show backstage, just where the models enter and leave the catwalk. That is my favourite place to be, because you can capture both the clothes and the human beings within them.

It was an amazing experience, and I hope to be involved just as much in the future. Thanks so much to the team (GO TEAM!) which have some awesome awesome people. I've been able to start so many awesome dialogues in the last few weeks, I just can't wait to see what is going to happen.

GFW 2014: Kingston Fashion

I wasn't able to be at GFW for the 2nd June, and so I took the opportunity to illustrate at the Kingston internal show. I am really looking forward to drawing next year, especially as Pippa and Natalie's collections will be in it too! I can't wait to see what everybody creates.

Surprise! V&A Illustration Awards.

Forgive me, I've been keeping this from you for a long time...

But I'm ecstatic to announce that I am this years Runner up for the V&A Illustration Awards in the Student category!!!! 

I submitted three drawings from my fashion illustrations at Fashion Scout in November, and kind of forgot that I did until a few months ago when I received the email. I am so unbelievably happy and relieved that this work in particular stood out to them, just because I cared about it so much and didn't feel I got much credit for it at the time. I guess that it feels like I've fulfilled what I wanted to achieve from it, especially amidst GFW too. I really look forward to getting more involved in it, much more than in commissions and drawing itself.

I'd really like to thank the Fashion Scout team that year, Josh Walker, Josh Osborn, Asia Werbel and Max Barnett in particular, for the support at the time and still now. I was really a nervous wreck on that first day, and it makes a huge difference to have friends along the way. Also Ezzidin Alwan who introduced me to the opportunity in the first place, and of course Hannah, Natalie and Mike, who fed me cold pizza when I got home.

I got an amazing trophy (it's really heavy, like a brick) and £1000 (!!!) which is going towards a trip to Chicago after I graduate. I'm glad I planned where it was going beforehand! Jonas, Rosa, Ani and I celebrated with a sushi dinner and gorging on the free prosecco and strawberry and mango ice tea. If you're around, my work is temporarily exhibited in the V&A (!!!!!!!!!!) across from library. Excuse the shit photos, they had a lot of mood lighting, so I think I'll return for some better photos when I've recovered from drawing.

GFW 2014: Sunday 1st June.

Epsom

Manchester

Wiltshire & Northbrook

De Montfort Contour

GFW 2014: Saturday 31st May.

If you've been keeping up with all the social media, you'll know that I've been drawing at Graduate Fashion Week this year. Josh Walker (you should all check out his web magazine, Colourblind) is the new editor for Fashion Scout and GFW blog, so he invited me to come back and be part of the team. I've been a little wary of returning to the fashion scene, purely because I don't want to just be known as a fashion illustrator. But at the end of the day, I love clothes, I love the atmosphere, and I love feeling like I am documenting something that people don't get to see, and I truly am honoured to be there.
Just to reiterate, all these drawings are done on location and the background is the only part that is edited afterwards. I think it's important to be there to really understand what it feels like. After all, it's most definitely not about clothes, its about people. It's about designers, models, make-up artists, hair stylists, people that have skills and craft. I think that's the point, that I convey feeling and joy, show each face, draw models dancing and laughing, relaxing.
So this is Day One:

Istituto Marangoni

University of East London

Northumbria

Edinburgh