If you have not seen Daisy de Villeneuve’s illustrations, you must have been living in cave in the middle of nowhere. Her work has bedecked everything from Transport for London travel wallets, lust inducing Moet & Chandon champagne boxes, Topshop shoe boxes to the pages of Vogue etc.
The Parson’s School of Design graduate (she attended the prestigious school in both Paris and New York) is a much loved illustrator.
British Illustrator, Daisy de Villeneuve primarily uses felt tips to create distinctly bold and graphic drawings.
Her clients have included Topshop (her shoe box designs for them were a hit!), ELLE Decoration, British Vogue, Lula Magazine, the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A), Transport for London, Browns Focus, Nike, Colette and so much more.
She has exhibited her work in London, Tokyo and New York. In 2004 she held a notable solo show at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum.
Her talent is no surprise, as she is from creative stock. Her father, Justin de Villeneuve is the legendary photographer who discovered and managed iconic 60’s model, ‘Twiggy’. Her mother is also leading 60’s model, Jan Ward.
Daisy has two delish illustration books to her name; ‘He Said, She Said’ and ‘I Told You So’. Both are super addictive, think unapologetically bold and witty vignettes. ‘I Told You So’ is the source of one my favourite quotes on enemies thinly disguised as friends(‘frenemies’)… “What they all have in common is that they are of the same type: ‘Bitch’.”
When I first read that, I thought ‘Mean Girls’ eat your heart out.
Having been fascinated with Daisy’s work for a while, I am honoured to interview the talented illustrator.
Photo Credit: Self Portrait of Daisy de Villeneuve. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve.
Marian - Hello Daisy, Thank you for granting this interview. First and foremost, I am a big fan of your work. Congratulations on your successful career thus far.
Daisy - Thank you, that’s always nice to hear!
Photo Credit: Daisy de Villeneuve for Topshop. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve
1. Tell us a bit about your educational, creative and career background.
From the age of 14 I had wanted to live in New York. I’m half American & had spent a lot of time in the US over school holidays visiting relatives. My dream was to go to art school in New York, plus, I had watched too many episodes of Fame, too many Woody Allen films, loved the skyscrapers & yellow cabs.
I went to Parsons School of Design in NYC & then Paris, studying Fashion & Fine Art. After I graduated in 1999, I moved to London & was in a few group shows, then in late 2000 I was commissioned by Pocko Editions to do a book of my drawings, which later became “He Said She Said” published in 2001, later spotted by Topshop to illustrate their shoeboxes hence the career in illustration coming about.
2. How did you know illustration was your calling?
I didn’t. I ended up just falling into illustration by chance. Years ago when I first started someone asked me what I did for a career, I said I was an ‘illustrator’, there weren’t so many illustrator’s around back then (there’s always been fashion illustrators) but I was just ‘illustrator’, people were busy forging careers as stylists & illustration was so old school that I thought it sounded good, better than ‘artist’.
Plus everyone back then was doing illustration on the computer, which had become the norm, I was illustrating by hand. No photoshop for me, as I’m no computer wiz kid & I like the hand drawn element.
3. Your work is seemingly conversational and slightly documentary in its style. Is this intentional? Please share your thoughts.
Yes! I sometimes like to add some text to compliment the drawing, I think it takes it to another level makes the drawing come alive, adds a bit of personality (bit of mine I guess).
Photo Credit: Daisy de Villeneuve rug design for Habitat’s VIP range. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve.
4. Artists and creative’s are always being put into boxes (sometimes erroneously!) but how would you best describe your work?
I never want to be put into a box, I’m an illustrator but I’m also a designer & writer. I do have plans to explore other creative fields too, fashion, interiors & film, I don’t want to limit myself to solely being an illustrator, that would be very boring.
I’d like to grow artistically & sometimes when I get asked to do something that is say outside the box that can sometimes be a challenge for me. I may struggle at first & resist it but in the end it can really open me up creatively which is never a bad think.
5. Your use of colour is refreshing. What influences your colour palette?
I like bright colours that’s all. However, trips abroad can be inspiring, especially Mexico for me.
6. I find that your work is reminiscent of British artist, Peter Blake. Which artists have inspired you significantly thus far?
Oh cool. Yeah I’m a big Peter Blake Fan. I like all pop artists, that movement in particular. Love David Hockney, Andy Warhol & Robert Indiana. I also like Surrealism, Outsider Art & Folk Art. Also, really like Peter Beard’s work, the sketchbooks & photo’s. I’m very interested in photography too.
7. Your illustrations have adorned a host of respected brands, companies and products. Which has been your favourite commercial collaboration to date?
It’s hard to say which brand in particular as I have liked them all individually, but Moët & Chandon was fantastic as that job took me around the world with my work which is pretty cool, all because of my felt tip pens!
Photo Credit: Daisy de Villeneuve for Moet & Chandon. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve
8. If you could have 5 artists dead or alive to dinner, who would you invite and why?
Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Frida Kahlo, Man Ray & Salvador Dali for obvious reasons, I love their work.
Photo Credit: Daisy de Villeneuve for Transport for London. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve
9. I adored your books, how did they come about and is there a chance of another?
Thank you! As I mentioned earlier Pocko Editions commissioned me to illustrate a book & I had to come up with 110 drawings & text for a 99 page book, which later became, “He Said She Said”.
They had seen my work at Euforia, a boutique in Notting Hill, I was showing my graduation work & had about 14 He Said She Said drawings & that’s when they asked me if I could draw more.
As for another book, I’d like to do one at a later date, I just need to figure out the concept first but definitely on the cards.
Photo Credit: Image from ‘He said, she said’ by Daisy de Villeneuve. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve.
10. If you could illustrate for any iconic fashion label or fashion product (garment or accessory), you would chose?
I would love to illustrate for a timeless British brand, most of them. I don’t want to limit myself by picking just one.
Photo Credit:Image from ‘I Told You So’ by Daisy de Villeneuve. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve.
11. You have shown your work internationally to rave reviews. What does the future hold for you exhibition wise?
I’m about to have a solo show at Liberty in March (March 29th – April 25th 2010).
Photo Credit: Daisy de Villeneuve image from upcoming D de V London show. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve.
12. Any projects or collaborations in the pipeline?
I’ve just designed a range of candles called, Daisy Rose, 4 rose scented candles, they will be available at Liberty’s soon.
Photo Credit: Daisy de Villeneuve Tuberose candle sample. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve.
13. What does the future hold for your illustrations?
I’d like to see my work animated!
Photo Credit: Daisy de Villeneuve for Boots. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve.
13. What do you want your illustrations to be remembered as…
Colourful & fun. Hopefully make one smile & brighten up their day.
Photo Credit: Daisy de Villeneuve’s signature. Courtesy of Daisy de Villeneuve.
Many kind thanks to Daisy for her amazing answers, her work always puts a smile on my face!
Do stay tuned for posts in near future on de Villeneuve’s upcoming solo show and 4 piece candle collection.
In the meanwhile, visit her site here.
Read the rest of the Art, Illustration and Design in Focus segment here.
