Learning about the Industry – Nadine Wickenden

This morning we were introduced to Nadine Wickenden, who works with illustration. She became interested in illustration during school where she did A levels in Art & Design and Illustration, she then went on to do a degree in the subject. She then began work in a studio where she found an agent to support her in her career. She started out designing packaging and advertisements and found a niche in cookery books and children’s story books. She also found an interest in combining other materials with her work. She was fond of using traditional methods of drawing, using watercolour paints and using pieces of fabric and textiles. Her work has a very unique ‘feel’ to it and this is obviously her signature style as a designer and illustrator. Her work is very florid and pleasant and I think this is bolstered by the use of her own little caricatures and traditional methods. Nadine brought in some of her own work for us to see which was nice and gave us a flavour of what she does and her target market. The thing I most liked about her work was the way she had stuck to a specific style of design, creating an image and style for yourself can play an important part of your career if you’re to reach out to certain markets. Deciding what style and clients to go for though can be a difficult choice to make.