Lisa Stickley doodles onto paper and cloth to create gloriously quirky products and children’s books. An award-winning designer, author, and illustrator, she started out life as a printed textile designer, training at Central Saint Martins and The Royal College of Art. Soon after graduation in 1999, and from her bedroom back home, she founded her label.
It was only after giving birth to her two daughters, that Stickley began experimenting with writing and illustrating stories for children. “The thing I love about children is they observe the tiniest stuff,” she later reflected in an interview with Books with Baby. “We grown-ups are so busy nowadays, with work and social media.”
Inspired by her daughters’ everyday musings, Stickley’s quirky tales are told from a fresh untainted view of the world with humor and charm. Her illustrations, playful and naive, are equally charming, brought to life with her use of bright colors and distinctive patterns (borrowed from her formal background in textile design).
“Before doing my books, I hadn’t drawn people for years,” she admits. “I was scared of it. So I sat down and had a proper look at artists and designers I loved, and tried to put myself in their shoes to get started. It freed me up and now I love it!” As a children’s author, a mother, and someone who came to reading a little later, the importance of encouraging children to enjoy reading as much as possible, as soon as possible is personal and passionate for her.
You’ll want to take note of her playful work.
