Art Source

Art Source The Dawn of Creation

Dawn Quigg was so right to ignore the advice of her school careers advisor who urged her to forget the idea of forging a career as an artist. Now, with 16 years experience of designing greeting cards under her belt, this talented Northants creative is enjoying life as a freelance illustrator.

PG caught up with this active member of the Creative Card Collective to find out about her life and loves.

Far left: Dawn Quigg exudes creativity. Left: Dawn in equally happy with contemporary designs as she is with the more traditional. Below left: A love of the natural world feeds into Dawn’s designs.

I’ve always loved drawing for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories was drawing from a ‘how to draw animals’ book my parents bought me. That ignited a fire in my soul for art and being creative. I remember saying to a school careers advisor that I wanted a job as an artist. He said I should have a Plan B as I wouldn’t end up with a job like that. Well, I was determined to paint so I went on to study Illustration at university.

I then worked as a surface pattern designer for a tableware company during which I learnt a lot and enjoyed figuring out how to illustrate something that would end up being printed and wrapped round a mug etc.

Life then took another direction, as I left to start working as a designer for Watermark Publishing [which used to supply Clintons with a lot of its own brand designs]. I so loved being around so many creative like-minded people and worked my way up to designer and illustrator.

I’ve now reinvented myself as a freelance illustrator and designer with support of family and friends, building up contacts and work. It’s fantastic and even more so now I have my own little studio at home.

I always found it so exciting seeing my work on a product in store working as part of a company, but even more so now as it somehow seems more personal and special. I even gave a little yelp when I saw my work in a Clintons store the other month. I really don’t think I will ever lose that moment of joy seeing someone pick up a card featuring one of my illustrations and I find it such a thrill to give a card that I have designed to one of my family or friends. I now have 16 years’ experience in the industry and realise that my work has evolved, with many styles and different mediums. For the most part I still illustrate by hand and then bring my artworks into the computer to manipulate them to create the finished designs. But I do like a challenge so I have been playing round with creating computer artworks too.

I love to illustrate many different subject matters, from cute and whimsical characters to landscapes and florals in modern and traditional styles. Whatever the style and subject matter I still really enjoy it; it is what I am meant to do.

If however I do suffer from artist’s block I just go out into the garden. I just love growing plants, especially vegetables, with my three year old son. Alongside continuing my greeting card work, one of my dreams is to also illustrate children’s books as it would be amazing to read a book I had illustrated to my son. I get my inspiration for my work from so many places, everyday life, internet, packaging, magazines, and children’s books of which I have a huge collection, which comes in handy for reading to my son.

I am proud to be a member of Creative Card Collective as being a freelance Illustrator can be a little isolating at times so it’s lovely to receive the regular emails with inspiration as well as being able to show my work, and receiving feedback can lift you on a flat day.

Above: A festive flavour from Dawn. Left: Philosophy and illustration combine in this design by Dawn. Right: Her love of gardening feeds into Dawn’s artwork.