If there’s one thing Kent is not short of, it is stunning vistas. Here we meet two illustrators turning our towns into even more unique scenes...
Nigel Wallace lives in Faversham with his wife and Pippa and the couple's Springer Spaniel. Here the artist behind our cover illustration talks procrastination and tricky commissions...
How did your business - White One Sugar - come about and what did you do before?
I have always been an illustrator, all be it a technical one. About 25 years ago, I decided to go it alone and live off selling my art. My wife was my support at this point (along with some redundancy money!)
What was your first commission of and who was it for?
A friend asked me to draw her house and it went on from there.
What has been your favourite place/thing to draw?
I love drawing anything to do with the sea and coastal areas. I never tire of the sound of the sea and it always inspires me to draw. That goes for Pippa as well - she would spend all day on the beach if possible!
And what has been the trickiest?
Canterbury Cathedral! As a result of my training, I put in too much detail and have had to learn where to stop. You can imagine how much detail I tried to put into Canterbury Cathedral!
How long does it take you to complete an illustration?
Anything from half an hour to several days. Procrastination can play a part when I'm drawing something complicated, or that I am not sure of.
Are there any commissions you don’t take on?
Faces! I found that I enjoy drawing landscape and architecture more than people, plus it's a good excuse to go out and draw.
How many different places/items have you now illustrated?
I have lost count now! I started by doing pencil drawings of Kent and made it to about 300 in that series. I have nearly 800 in the White One Sugar series of travel posters and that doesn't include commissions. I now have a portfolio of pictures from around the world.
What might people be surprised to know about you/your illustrations?
Most people think they are adapted photographs so the surprising thing might be that they are fully drawn.
What has surprised you the most since starting up your business?
How trusting people can be. I have dealt with many shop owners and managers in Kent and around England and have been surprised how many have become friends. They have trusted me to both advise them about what they need and inform them of how much they have sold. You need to be trustworthy.
What does 2024 have in store for you and your illustrations?
Since I started doing the travel poster style drawings over 20 years ago a lot of other people have started doing the same things so I am looking to how I can start something new. Watch this space!
Web: whiteonesugar.etsy.com
Email: whiteonesugar@hotmail.com
How did your business come about and what did you do before?
I have been a graphic designer for the past 20 years, but during the pandemic I'd stopped working and was spending a lot of time exploring the local area with my family. It was such a bizarre time and I initially started drawing maps to fill the creative void I was missing from work. I also really wanted a keepsake to illustrate the areas my family and I had been enjoying. I posted my first maps on social media and the business grew organically from there. I now have a collection of illustrated maps and products that I sell on Etsy and throughout independent retailers, but I also still work as a graphic designer, alongside running Debbie Draws Maps.
What was your first commission of and who was it for?
My very first commission was for one of my oldest friends. I created a Sevenoaks map with an illustration of her family on it. I remember being so nervous handing it over; worried that she might not like how I had depicted them, but luckily she loved it!
What has been your favourite place/thing to draw?
I really enjoyed creating my Kent map as there were so many varying types of landmarks to draw; from historical castles to the ultra modern Turner Contemporary - even the Dartford Crossing was fun to draw.
And what has been the trickiest?
My son is train obsessed so I have tried to include as many as possible in my maps, but they can be really tricky to draw.
How long does it take you to complete an illustration?
It varies depending on what I am illustrating, but on average it’s between two weeks and a month.
How many different places have you now illustrated?
I currently have 18 illustrated maps available on my Etsy site (but I have worked on more as private commissions).
What might people be surprised to know about you/your illustrations?
That most of my maps feature my family! I often add faceless characters to my maps, so I like to base them on people I know. I usually sneak on an illustration of me and my future pet dog too (that I am hoping to get as soon as I can convince my other half to agree).
What does 2024 have in store for you and your illustrations?
I am really excited to be creating a website that will feature all of my maps and products. I also plan to create new maps of my favourite UK holiday spots; the Lake District and Isle of Purbeck. And I’d love the opportunity to work on some new commissions...
What top tip would you give to anyone starting up their own business?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice. At the start I reached out to some businesses that I looked up to and received some really helpful, constructive advice. And if possible, get an accountant to help with your taxes...
etsy.com/uk/shop/DebbieDrawsMaps
