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Interview: with Gemma Kenward


Beautiful customised wedding,bridal party and occasion shoes uniquely hand painted. 

Unique personal service with all shoes designed and hand painted by award winning artist and illustrator Gemma Kenward. Here is my inspiring interview with the women her self! 

1-what's in your makeup bag? I'm not really a makeup type of person, I don't wear any unless I go out for an evening somewhere and even then I only put on some Rimmell mascara. I have been known to wear fancy dress makeup as foundation before! Sacrilege I Know! A few months ago I had my makeup done professionally and I just felt like I didn't look like me. I do like red lipstick though when I'm going somewhere posh - The red lipstick I have I've had in my makeup bag for years, I think it's Avon.
2-What's your daily fragrance? I wear either Night by Hugo Boss or Dots by Marc Jacobs.
3-what's your outfit of the day? Today I'm wearing a pair of Jack Wills jogging bottoms and a Misfits t-shirt.
4-your an award winning artist... That's pretty awesome,,, what inspired you to get into art and illustration? Thank you. I've always wanted to be an artist, ever since I was little. Creativity was something that always came naturally to me. I guess my tutor, Gary Embury at Art College steered me in the direction of illustration. He taught me so much about colour and line, and encouraged my passion for typography and doodling with my biro, where other more classically trained tutors didn't appreciate. I've also been inspired by my tattoo artist! He's encouraged me to sell my designs to other tattoo shops etc. which is lots of fun and encapsulates what the style of illustration I love. 
5-Do you read fashion or design magazines? I used to read In Style every now. I also like GQ.
6-How would you describe your own style? I'm a rock chick! I wear band t-shirts and scruffy jeans day to day. Leather leggings are also a favourite in my wardrobe coupled either with my favourite Motley Crue T-Shirt or a simple black shirt and court shoes. Evening wear I go for a rock-a-billy look in 1950's tea dresses and Mary Jane shoes etc. I buy my dresses from Vivienne Holloway or a little boutique shop near me called Kiki's. They stock dresses by Emily and Fin.
7-how has your work evolved over the years? Well at first when I graduated from Art College I wanted to be a children's illustrator. I spent a few years sending manuscripts off and detailed illustrations of cats and robots and anything I thought would catch a publisher or agents eye. Eventually I gave up and freelanced for magazines for a few years which completely bored me as more often than not there's a strict brief to stick to. Then I started to embrace my love of drawing with biros again and fashion illustration. Burlesque really inspired me and it all snowballed from there.
8-Of all the shoes you've designed,Which has given you the most satisfaction? Oh goodness, I don't think I can chose just one design, they've all been so pretty and arty. I do love it when a bride asks me to paint something a little wackier on the shoes as normal. The shoes with the campervans on were particularly fun to design and hand paint.
9-Where do you work on your projects? I work in my studio on a glass table and quite often I sit on the floor to paint too. I do take work home with me too, I often sit on the sofa and reply to emails and update my website and social media sites. At weekends if I'm not painting in the studio I'm painting at home at the kitchen table. 
10-are there any materials that you would like to work further with? I'd love to make more time for painting actually paintings on canvas, sadly I haven't had time to in a while. I would also like to paint more Converse or Toms.
11-if you could work with any designer, who would you collaborate with? I would absolutely love to work with Vivienne Westwood, she's my hero! When I do eventually get married myself I have a Vivienne Westwood Wedding Dress Fund.



For more on Gemma Kenward head to:

I how hope you enjoyed the read
Lots of love 
Natasha 
xXx

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