ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE :
SARAH WILLMOTT
SARAH IS THE KENT ILLUSTRATOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER LOOKING TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS WITH HER FUN , QUIRKY DESIGNS . INSPIRED FROM A YOUNG AGE TO PURSUE HER PASSION AND TACKLE SUBJECTS MANY WOULD SHUN ; FROM TABOOS AND FEMINIST IDEALS , TO LIFE ON ENGLAND ’ S EAST COAST ; SHE IS CARVING A NAME FOR HERSELF AS ONE OF KENT ’ S MOST INTERESTING UP AND COMING ARTISTS .
Congratulations on illustrating the Coachworks , what led up to this ?
I was invigilating ‘ The Orchestrated Unconscious ’ by Liz Wilson and would often spend my down time illustrating scenes or objects around me , just to get into a creative mood . I chose to illustrate the buildings on site at the Coachworks , I quite like the idea of looking back at artwork from the past and remembering that moment . I treat them all like a postcard or time stamp in my life . I later gifted these illustrations to the Coachworks team .
If you had to define your art , how would you describe what you do ?
I would describe my illustrative style as quirky with a distinct focus on the details and features that make each building , person or object unique . My ‘ Pubs of Faversham ’ print was very popular and I am now known around town as the pub lady . I love working with local people and businesses and a lot of my illustration work is based on scenes of Kent landmarks and towns .
I also love to work with charities , and over lockdown I worked closely with a period poverty charity based in Manchester called Every Month , to help raise money for them . For their ‘£ 100 in 100 days ’ I decided to illustrate people ’ s homes or favourite buildings , and I later added a pet portrait option which was equally popular . My pet portraits were more of a graphic style , however my building illustrations are still a big part of my practice . We raised £ 850 in total .
How did you become an illustrator ?
I actually trained as a graphic designer , I went to UCA Epsom for my BA , before continuing with a masters degree at Chelsea School of Art . During my education I found a love of illustrating buildings and objects around me , during my GCSEs my art teacher told me that my lines weren ’ t accurate and I didn ’ t have a good concept of perspective . Once I traded at local art markets and fairs I realised that my style was quite popular for being a little naive and quirky . I think that one comment ignited some sort of passion inside me , to believe more in myself , as well as my style .
How would you describe your process ?
My process is quite simple when illustrating . Either a client will come to me with a concept or I will create one based on my inspiration at the time . I will then draft out rough ideas in pencil or as a sketch on my iPad , before developing this into a simple line drawing . At that stage I will either add colour or leave it as a line . My brain creates visuals all the time , especially when talking to a client about ideas and concepts . I have to take pen to paper quite quickly before the idea goes , and at times these have become the final design .
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