Introducing Illustrator Lucy Jones of PoppetPics
people • makers
PoppetPics is an Illustration company founded by Lucy Jones. Lucy studied Design and Media Management at University in London with her final semester at the fine arts department in Granada University, Spain specialising in Photography, sculpture and drawing. She has a background in Television production with Reuters, GMTV, Showbiz Weekly, and Sky Television. Lucy is a member of the British Academy of Interior Designers, focusing on Interior styling.
Currently, she integrates her expertise in Photography and Interiors to produce digital illustrations of daily life's exterior and interior aspects.
WEBSITE: poppetpics.co.uk INSTAGRAM: @lucyjonespoppetpics
Words: designeers
September 2018
designeers
What inspired you to become an interior illustrator, and how did you develop your unique style?
Lucy jones
I have a photography and arts background and have recently trained as an interior designer with BAID - I love observing buildings, interiors and what catches my eye is often simplicity, symmetry and style. I admire and am inspired by attention to detail. My illustration style is a mix of my photography taken of beautifully styled places which evoke something special to me and this has led me to produce observational illustrations with a sense of fun. I could be in a shop or a restaurant and have amazing service/packaging, something a little different and honest. I will be looking at their incredibly styled pieces/food and it makes me feel happy and some vision of the interior or exterior will inspire me. I will then take a photograph with the intention to sketch it up. It has to be a 3 dimensional inspiration the vision being something that catches my eye plus the service being warm honest and friendly. I started off by sketching and then sending across the image to the bar/restaurant/shop as a gift of the lovely experience I had had. The store/restaurant will often reciprocate with an invitational supper/drink/experience. It’s like old fashioned trading. I love it, it’s exciting.
designeers
Do you have a preferred medium or technique for interior illustrations, such as hand-drawn, digital, watercolour, or mixed media?
lucy jones
I am loving exploring the collaboration of photography with digital art at the moment. I have an iPad and pencil and just take photos and sketch. I have resorted back to the origins of art school where I learnt single line drawings and this with digital is so fluid. I am then embracing the digital paint colours on the ipad and sometimes keep it true to the natural and others look like they can be brighter so its individual and depends on the drawing at the time.
designeers
Do you have a favourite project or illustration that you've worked on, and what makes it special to you?
lucy jones
I have done several collections of illustrations. I am enjoying the bar stools on interiors as they embrace a lovely sociable idea and always look so inviting. I have a collection of my favourite London pubs which are full of character and are more gastro with beautiful interiors. I also love the Menorcan ones as there are stylish exteriors and interiors and all very unpretentious - I have been visiting Menorca for years and have wonderful memories here - hence they are within my most special ones. I think they have a sense of light, colour and character.
designeers
How do you collaborate with interior designers, architects, or clients to ensure you capture their vision accurately?
lucy jones
I will arrange a meeting and get an understanding of what the IDs, architects, clients are wanting to portray. Most often they have an image of some of their work and they would like it to look softer and in a different medium so the digital drawing offers them what they want and varies the style. Everything is open for discussion and every project is slightly different. I can walk around their space and then construct the vision they want then I photograph it to confirm they are happy. It could be a simple exterior of a restaurant/hotel/home - a table setting - a seating area - I then begin to illustrate and send the illustration over for their use. If they want colours or angles editing then we communicate until they get exactly what they want.
designeers
Are there any specific interior spaces or types of projects you're particularly interested in exploring in your future work?
lucy jones
I would like to do more sketches that could be used in pattern repeats, that could be used in wallpapers, table wear, limited editions in shops/galleries, marketing on social media and magazines. I'm open to it all! I would like to work and collaborate with a group and do regular sketches of their product, like a hotel group or restaurants. I think spaces evolve and it’s fun to keep capturing moments and communicate them to a mass.
“I think spaces evolve and it’s fun to keep capturing moments and communicate them to a mass.”
lucy jones
designeers
What do you do when you’re not working?
lucy jones
I love to travel, I find this a huge source of inspiration and it opens my eyes to various observations that you can only see whilst immersed into a different culture/space. I also love simply being at home and spending time with friends and the family when they are around, I’m not the greatest cook but can do a mean salad!
designeers
One interior designer whose interior you wish you could illustrate?
lucy jones
Oh, I have a few Kit Kemp from Firmdale group - I love their interiors - unique stylish and playful. I do also love the Soho House group interiors and their books I find very inspiring with all the backstories; Morning Noon and Night being my fave - although I’m fearful the group will change as they are growing and Nick Jones is taking a back seat. He is incredibly inspiring. One other would be Sonny and Eva from Six Senses, their style is super simple and luxurious in a very natural unpretentious way. All 3 of these have amazing attention to detail. I have several sketches of each of their interiors/exteriors.
designeers
What are you inspired by?
lucy jones
Travelling, galleries, ambience, style, artists, anything visual - I could walk down the street in London or go travelling and be guaranteed to be inspired by something/someone I see. There is so much out there, visually look up and around and there is always something that shouts out.
designeers
Penthouse or townhouse?
lucy jones
Townhouse – I like my own front door and no noise of someone walking around in a flat above or below.
designeers
Favourite hotel in the world?
lucy jones
Any of the Six senses they are always a guarantee for service, style and perfection in really unique places - one especially Zighy Bay for its insane style & wonderful memories. We did recently stay in the most incredible one off hotel in Siem Reap called Viroth’s. Its style was stunning, lots of symmetry, beautiful complimentary shades, stunning furniture with cord upholstery in soft shades and the attention to detail was impeccable – like I’ve never seen before – you could tell it was owned by someone with great style and who showed their presence within the hotel. Their service was probably the best service we’ve ever experienced in a hotel and to top it they had a collection of stunning classic cars to take you around the Angkot wats.
