In Conversation with Harriet Seed, featuring her Collaboration with New York's Levain Bakery

Raised in the mid Wales countryside and with a background in fashion and textiles, we visit CIA illustrator Harriet Seed's garden studio to discuss influence, ambition and relocation.

Take us back to the beginning, where does your creativity come from and when did you first uncover it?

My parents aren’t artists but are definitely creative people. My dad is a writer and my mum is one of those people who can do anything - she used to make lots our clothes as children and has a great eye for colour and style. They always encouraged my siblings and me to take every opportunity to learn, try things out and go do what we really wanted to in our education and careers. Our house was full of books and curiosity and creativity of all forms were celebrated. My brother is a musician and composer so we have both gone into artistic fields.

My first ever primary school teacher, Mrs Ifans, told my parents I would become an artist when I was 4! I was fortunate to have a wonderful art teacher at secondary school - Ann Stephens - who was so encouraging and enthusiastic, she really let us have fun and experiment. I remember a careers advisor asking me why I wanted to take Art A level when I was ‘quite clever’ and realising that not everyone values creativity or takes it seriously as a career. Obviously, I ignored his advice and listened to Mrs Stephens instead.

Growing up in rural mid Wales. Welsh culture has a rich tradition of storytelling, poetry, myths, legends and folklore. I can’t help but be influenced by fables like the Mabinogion which connect you to the landscape and your place in it. The natural world is a constant in my work - flora and fauna and the skies especially.

How did your distinctive visual language evolve, and where are you most comfortable working?

It took me a while to find my feet and confidence as an illustrator as I didn’t do an illustration degree - I come from a fashion textiles background. I found it hard not to be influenced by what successful illustrators were doing and eventually realised that I had to ignore trends and do what came naturally to me. And that was leaning in to what I knew - pattern and colour. I’d say my style has evolved to be much more rooted in my own culture and point of view than deriving overt influence from elsewhere or what is ‘now’.

Although my work is all digital these days, I still usually sketch out ideas and thoughts in pencil. I like to take a little sketchbook with me everywhere in my bag. I have a studio in my garden - it’s a gorgeous space to work in and as soon as I’m in there, everything else disappears. In the summer the doors are open with birdsong and sunshine coming in, and in the winter it’s warm and cosy, usually with my cats tucked up somewhere nearby. If I could relocate anywhere it would have to be Japan - I first saw ukiyo-e when I was at school and it’s been my dream to visit ever since. It could be Tokyo or by the sea or in the mountains, as long as it’s Japan, I’m there…

And tell us about some projects, past, present or maybe future??

I absolutely love doing illustration for packaging so working recently with Levain Bakery on their holiday tins was a dream job. They were so wonderful and collaborative to work with - I jump at any opportunity to make a repeat pattern and this one was great fun - New York iconography with Christmas and holiday themes. I always find Christmas projects a joy to work on, although it’s usually mid summer when we’re working on them!

In terms of what’s coming next, who knows! A dream client would be Liberty. I used to visit the store as a child and still think it’s a magical space. I’d love to do a pattern for them or some packaging. I’d also love to collaborate with Boss Morris (if you don’t know they are you’ve got to visit https://www.bossmorris.com). I would love to do some costumes or prints for them. It’s so important to keep our folk traditions alive and relevant.

See more of Harriet's beautiful work here.

Levain Bakery Photographer: @markweinbergnyc
Levain Bakery Prop stylist: @veronicaolson @carolinetribe_
Levain Bakery Food stylist: @maggie_ruggiero

Previous story / Next story