I’m going to let you into a little secret of mine – I’m a massive fan of fashion illustration, something that frustratingly wasn’t particularly in vogue during my time on magazines. Many editors and art director’s didn’t really favour it, and saw it as niche. However, thanks to social media it has enjoyed a renaissance and a few years ago I met today’s subject for ‘In Conversation with’, Niki Groom, aka @miss_magpie_spy . Cleverly, Niki would target magazine editors, fashion directors and designers on social media and post gorgeous, coloured sketches reflecting what they were up to. Thus she caught my eye and for the first issue of a standalone fashion magazine I edited for Cosmo, our catwalk coverage featured four stunning illustrations by her. The readers absolutely loved them.  Today we chat to Niki about her career path, her goals and excitingly she has created six exclusive illustrations for The Stylish Stuff reflecting my favourite looks from London Fashion Week. 

 

When did you first start sketching?
I’ve always been drawing, as long as I can remember. I used to doodle faces in the margins of my English essays at school, I’m sure it got me higher marks!
Is your background in design? 
I did an Art Foundation Course in Winchester and then a degree in Fashion Design at Manchester. I’ve been a clothing designer for the high street for over 15 years and worked for Monsoon as a senior designer for 6 of those. Illustration was really a hobby until I went freelance 6 years ago, and started picking up the odd commission. This has grown and grown, and now most of my income now comes from illustration.
How would you describe your style of illustration?
Feminine, expressive, colourful, fun, always hand drawn.

 

(The Stylish Stuff loved Erdem – from the delicacy of the intricate lace collar, to the puff of the sheer organza sleeves, this dress caught my imagination at LFW. Period costume meets modern-day red carpet heroine.)

 

I met you via social media, would you say that it’s been an invaluable way for you to make contacts and attract commissions?
Yes, until I joined Instagram I found it hard to know how to approach people and how to get my work seen. One of my first posts on instagram 4 years ago was an illustration of Jane Bruton’s photo from the FROW at Paris Fashion Week. At this point in time no-one was really doing this, and so my work got picked up and published in that week’s Grazia and things went from there. Many of my commissions have come directly from Instagram,yes, definitely invaluable to me.

 

(The Stylish Stuff loved Burberry – from the medieval feel of the tunic dress to the wonky wearing of opaque herringbone tights I fell for this look. She’s rock’n’roll, she’s pre-raphaelite and somehow gothic too.) 

How would you describe your work ethic?
I border on obsessive with my work because I love doing it. I don’t mind working long hours and my brain is a constant flow of ideas. I’ve never missed a deadline and I always over deliver – I was like that at school, a total teacher’s pet! I want to get better and better and so I really practice, settling myself challenges of how to push my work on. Recently I went to Scotland to do 2 weeks of my own work. I painted on glass, I tried oil paints, I illustrated hands, I used gold leaf and other mediums that were new to me and I learnt to make little videos about my work. I’m always learning.

 

(The Stylish Stuff loved Mulberry – leather, felted wool, a cowgirl’s bootlace-bow tied blouse, chains, creepers and then the neat little oxblood bag clutched to her like she means business.)

Do you have a burning desire to illustrate for any particular brand?
Yes, I would love to work with Liberty. I love their prints and their heritage but also the way in which they collaborate with contemporary brands and always manage to be current.
My perfect brief would to do a window display for them. I already have a sketchbook full of ideas! Other than than I would love to work in Japan as love their design aesthetic.
What has been your most creative project to date?
I think this has to be the first window design that I did for Accessorize. The brief was so much fun and I was given so much space and creativity to do what I wanted. But then also the same is true for the work I did for you at Cosmo Fashion. For me the best briefs spell out all of the practical things to be aware of, the aim, and then I’m left to my own devices to work out how.

 

(The Stylish Stuff loved Simone Rocha – a lace smock of a dress worn over a checked jacket and pants. Who knew? Simone Rocha did.)

 

Do you have any influences in your work or has it been an organic process?
I think my style has just developed over the years. I love to see the work of other illustrators, but have never tried to emulate their work. If I could draw like David Downton then hell yeah I would work like that as he is incredible, but it’s not my style. I’m more influenced by fashion and social media than I am by other illustrators really. I’ve been lucky to travel to India on business about 40 times and I think this has had an influence in terms of my colour combinations and love of sparkle and metallics, but also my knowledge of how clothes are made and how things hang on the body has meant my work has improved over the years.

 

(The Stylish Stuff loved Topshop Unique – this delivered me back to the 80s at high speed. The bold dogtooth check, sideswept, big hair and pop of hot pink on the lips felt now worn with cropped suedette pants and fishtail khol.)

Judging from Instagram, you are never without a coloured pen or paintbrush in your hand, how do you relax?
Illustration used to be how I relaxed and now it’s taken over as my job and so I’m not really sure if now I’m always quite relaxed or if I need to find a new hobby!
I’ll keep you posted…
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to follow a career in illustration?
I’m only now embarking on a full time career in Illustration and I’m nearly 40. So I guess be aware that it might take time and that you’ll likely need to do other work to pay the bills.
Also just feel confident that your own style will come, copying the work of other people isn’t the way to get noticed.

 

(The Stylish Stuff loved Preen by Thornton Bregazzi – pure romance, from the painterly florals to the overblown skirt and be-bowed sexy lace up, over the knee boots. The entire collection was perfection.)

 

Niki in residence. The tools, the inspirations, the results. Her passion for illustration and design surrounds her.

 

 

 

 

If you’re interested in owning your very own Miss Magpie Fashion Spy illustration, greetings cards or even commissioning a bespoke one, check out Niki’s website http://www.missmagpiefashionspy.com 

The Stylish Stuff LOVES.

 

Fashion & Style Director Shelly Vella

All illustration by Miss Magpie Fashion Spy / Niki Groom