Camilla Watson

"My work is rooted in a belief that illustration gains meaning when it is interacted with by real people. Art comes to life in the pages of a book or an intricately decorated object. As an illustrator, I work across print media, surface and product design. My goal is to create whimsical and functional art that brings a bit of color and joy into people's lives and homes. Working in acrylic gouache on wood panel of digitally on Procreate, I capture quiet magical moments in time. Through vivid color, texture and patterns I draw viewers into an environment that feels otherworldly, yet familiar. A nostalgic world inhabited by vibrant characters, lush nature and everyday objects. A world that bridges the fantastical and the mundane.
My art is greatly informed by folklore and mythology. I weave traditional fantastical elements into my illustrations, while also developing my own worlds - connecting them with recurring themes, motifs and visual language. 
I am inspired by medieval art, particularly by illuminated manuscripts, as well as by the Arts and Crafts movement. I am interested in the way these practices use symbolism, ornamentation and pattern to create complex illustrative narratives in functional art."