Louise Lockhart: Illustrator
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF…..
I’m an illustrator living in Wales, originally from Yorkshire. I love creating my designs using scissors as I find it a very free way to work, making slightly childlike wonky lines. I have worked on almost 20 children’s books alongside making my own products for my shop The Printed Peanut. I feel like a wear many hats, so to speak, being a mother, a small business owner, an artist and illustrator. This year marked my first ever solo exhibition (at Yorkshire Sculpture Park) so I’m trying to steer towards working more as an artist than a designer/illustrator which is an evolution that feels natural and a bit scary at the same time.
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
We’ve made a home on a farm in Wales as a bit of a creative community with three other families and it’s going really well (2 years in). It’s so great living amongst friends and sharing the childcare. We’re just about to move into to our home that we’ve built from scratch in an old cow barn and I’ll have the biggest studio of my life which is going to be incredible. (See also: cats, custard creams, tulips, enamel coffee post, flea markets, vintage packaging, pink lipstick and new socks.)
WHO IS YOUR STYLE ICON AND WHY?
I love taking inspiration from different eras and styles, rather than being tied to one particular look. I tend to gravitate towards jeans, boots and a cardigan, with a romantic element thrown in somewhere. I’ve always been a bit of a tomboy, but I love mixing that with something feminine — a floaty blouse, perhaps, or a 1960s eyeliner flick.
I’ve also inherited my mum’s love of a stripy T-shirt, which has become a bit of a wardrobe staple. I aspire to combine comfort, colour, beauty and practical pieces in a way that feels effortless but still has a little personality, which is something that Sideline absolutely nails every time. Mixing the ordinary with a pinch of the extra-ordinary in the detailing.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO AND READING AT THE MOMENT
I’m constantly listening to murder mysteries whilst I’m working. Anthony Horowitz books are great for that. I also love Death of An Artist podcast and Bill Bryson’s book, particularly the one about the Home. I love different music for different moods too and I’m always singing (much to my family’s dismay!)
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT SIDELINE?
Sideline is the perfect match for creative people who admire quality and craftsmanship in practical clothing that actually lasts. There’s always a bit of quirk in each piece which is very appealing, like a lovely bit of embroidery or a pop of colour. It’s comfortable, stylish and always attracts compliments. I love how it’s timeless and each season you can build from past pieces - like my wool vest from a few years ago looks great paired with this season’s cardigan and jeans. Thank you Ellen for having such a great vision!
Louise wears Nova Cardigan in brown fleck, Ini Jeans in oat patchwork and a previous season wool vest (we have a new version called Aida).