"ROCHDALE WAS MY FIRST PROPER MUSE" How Rochdale has influenced artist DoodlHer's work Vic Whitaker (DoodlHer) creates stunning artwork that can be spotted at a variety of different locations across Rochdale. From murals and window decals, to prints and illustrations for beer cans, the artist's creative work encapsulates the charm of Rochdale. Rochdale Style Magazine chatted with Vic to find out all about her recent art projects, what inspires her work and what she hopes people take from her art. Style: Tell us a bit about you and your work Vic: I grew up over the hill from Rochdale in Rishworth and moved here about eight years ago. The switch from a rural to an urban environment was like a springboard for my creativity. I’d regularly go into Rochdale town centre to sit and draw. Previously I’d been really shy about drawing in public, but I gradually built up the courage and confidence to just do it. This is why so much of my work features Rochdale landmarks, people and buildings. Rochdale was my first proper muse. 28 | Rochdale Style
I categorise myself a pen illustrator. Pens are my primary tool and most of my work tells a story or has some kind of a theme behind it. Drawing with pen has always been a thing for me, even as a child. My dad did a lot of joinery and he used fine tip pens for his designs. I used to borrow them, they felt so grown-up. I loved creating strong black outlines and honing in on fine details. I guess that’s stuck. Nowadays I love combining my penwork with other mediums, including paint and digital. The same goes for surfaces. Although I mostly work on paper, I’ve also worked on wood, plaster, clay and slate. I split my Doodlher time between commissions and creating artwork for my shop. I love it when people come to me with the seed of an idea and I can help them develop it into a fully-fledged piece of art. I recently completed a beautiful commission that combined a pen illustration of a local landscape with Van Gogh’s Starry Night, painted in his style. I’ve also created illustrations for apparel, beer cans, and there’s my mural work too.
What inspires your art? It’s really hard to pinpoint exactly what inspires my art. I know that lockdown had a negative impact on my creativity. Being unable to get out experience the world made my productivity dwindle. Once restrictions were lifted, I was backup-and-doodling within a few months. So, life and the world - that’s what inspires me. My interests definitely influence what I draw. I’m interested in history, understanding how things came to be. Travel, food, culture. I also like the challenge of taking an idea and turning it into something tangible.
