From Art History To Artist

Even after suggestions by her husband, it took the pandemic to cajole artist Hattie Gordon to start selling her vibrant illustrations as greetings cards and limited edition prints.

Her much loved cards are a joyful-riot of colours inspired by the colour of Rajasthan textiles and the British seaside. 

After studying History of Art at college, it’s not surprising she has a unique eye; creating greeting cards that brighten up your day.

Hattie Gordon, generously donated an illustration entitled ‘Singapore Angel’, created specially for Style Nomads in order to support our cause and single mums. All profits go to the social enterprise whose  mission is to help single Mums and other marginalized women.

The resulting Christmas card is printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) paper with plant-based ink, by another Singapore social enterprise. Purchasing a card not only does good, creates less impact but supports two local businesses in Singapore.

We caught up with Hattie to find out about her love of art and discovered creativity runs in the family - from a famous illustrator Mum to talented sons.

1.Where did you grow up? Where you good at art at school?

I grew up in Camden, London. I went to a secondary school that suffered a lot during the Thatcher years, and art lessons were basically seen as a free for all and time for anarchy, so I certainly didn’t get going there. 

2. What or who influenced your work? 

My mum was an extraordinary artist and illustrator, and although she didn’t have the time to do art with us, she worked from home and I think being around that creativity and the process of making sinks in almost by osmosis.

3. Did you study art at college? 

I studied History of Art at university, which was wonderful in terms of truly ‘seeing’ and the exposure to all forms of art and craft.

4. What made you take up illustration? 

I’ve always made my husband cards for birthdays and what not, and for years he has nudged me to draw and illustrate, but until recently I basically ignored him! 

When we had our sons we pretty much lived in children’s books, piles of them everywhere, and I certainly had as much joy as my boys did, endlessly looking at the illustrations while reading the stories. And we made a lot of art together, and that’s where something sparked for me – I would keep drawing and painting long after my boys had finished. I made my first picture of Spike the Tiger with my youngest son, the weekend we went into lockdown. 

He is brilliant at drawing creatures with a lot of character and I really value his input and assured visual sense. My oldest son is more about the technical aspects of drawing, so he gives really insightful feedback too. My sons and I still sometimes draw together – the last time we each drew a dragon. It’s a lot of fun to make art together in this way. 

5. What makes you ‘Feel Good’? 

Lots of things make me happy, maybe starting with coffee and pan au chocolat! Walking with my family, being by the sea, chatting with good friends, and of course making. I love the whole notion of creating something from nothing and being able to simply make up a scene or composition, and if it’s something joyful or funny, all the better. 

6. How do you select the colours? Why bright colours?

My colour obsession and love of strong colours is long standing. I remember when I was a child my mum would refer to certain colours as ‘delicious’ or ‘edible’ – certain pinks and oranges, and the deep ‘Biba purples’; and I completely relate to that; I definitely have that gene!

When I was 18 my older brother took me to India with him, and I’ll never forget bombing through the Rajasthani desert on the roof of a bus and seeing groups of women in the most beautiful brightly coloured saris and how those colours sung out from the vastness of the landscape. It’s that kind of vibrant colour I always go back to.

Follow Hattie Gordon on Instagram @hattiegordon

Purchase her work on here