Award-winning illustrator, Laura Hughes, is known for her playful illustrations, which have adorned a few children’s books, including There’s a Pig Up My Nose, written by John Dougherty; Daddy’s Sandwich by Pip Jones; and The Birthday Invitation by Lucy Rowland.
“Children’s books are an endless source of inspiration and wonder for me and I love the current trend for more ‘arty’, interesting styles,” she shared in an interview with Love Print Studio. “Though my work is very ‘illustrative’, I often look to painters and fine artists for inspiration,” she added. “I think it’s good for illustrators to look beyond their peers in order to keep their work looking fresh. Some of my current favorites include Emil Nolde, Anselm Kiefer, and Peter Doig.”
Loose and energetic, she employs inks, gouache paint, and crayons for her creations, adding the finishing touches digitally. As well as illustrating books for young readers, her artwork was featured on greetings cards, gift-wrap, packaging, and stationery all over the world.
Having studied illustration at Kingston University and graduated in 2005, she now resides in Walthamstow and is represented by Arabella Stein at The Bright Agency. “Most of the illustrations start with an urge to draw a particular thing,” she says, explaining her creative process. “I’ll make a few drawings of the subject, sometimes 2 or 3, sometimes even more! Then I scan the drawing or painting and clean it up on the computer.”
Follow her Instagram page for a pop of playfulness in your feed:
