Artist Spotlight: Grace Emily Design

This week in our Artist Spotlight series we are shining a light on the artist and illustrator, Grace Emily Design. Grace has been a member of MerseyMade since we opened in November 2019 and mainly creates beautiful architectural drawings and illustrations of Liverpool buildings and landscapes. Here’s what Grace has to say about her art practice and design background! 

“I've loved art for as long as I can remember, I’d always be drawing and can remember being upset in School when I was 6 when I wasn’t happy with a painting I’d done!! As I got a bit older the first person to teach me any technique was my Grandad who would amaze me with his talent! :) 

I studied Interior Architecture and Graphic Design then used a combination of these skills to create architectural illustrations. My artwork is very experimental and I don't have one set style which I work in, each piece varies from quite vibrant to more simplistic. I always begin by creating a black ink line drawing by hand and then decide whether to add colour. This is added with watercolour and acrylic paint or edited graphically in block colours. 

Creating a product range kind of happened accidentally for me, I started sketching in my spare time then all my friends were encouraging me to sell my work! I put pictures of my drawings on Instagram thinking I'll just put a few up and see if I can make a bit of money before I move to Canada and it escalated from there! 

I now supply my work to several gift shops, do pop ups and take custom commissions. I really couldn't wish for a better job and feel very lucky that I get to do something I love and to meet so many lovely people along the way - customers, other makers and shop owners. I've trialled and tested different printers and manufacturers (& had a few nightmares!!) to ensure each product is produced to the highest quality and made in the UK. 

Seeing where my artwork end up really does make me smile and I love that something I've created can bring so much sentiment to someone as they remember old memories of a place! “ 

 You can shop Grace Emily Design in-store!