The expression, character and personality in Shady Lady, captured by Lucia Vinti in what seems to be only a few brush-pen ink strokes, are remarkable. It’s as if you can feel the winter sun warming the subject’s face and vividly picture the highlights in her hair.
Lucia Vinti specialises in showcasing people, places, food and culture. She created Shady Lady during the winter 2020/21 UK lockdown while sitting by Tower Bridge. “I moved to London in the lockdown,” she says, “and I’m lucky that I’m within walking distance of Tower Bridge, so on sunnier days I spent a lot of time sitting by the Thames and watching everyone on their daily walks. This is one of my favourite drawings I did while people-watching.”
“I love drawing interesting strangers,” she explains, “as you’ll never really know who they are or what they’re up to”
Observation, especially of people, is a common theme in Vinti’s work. “I love drawing interesting strangers,” she explains, “as you’ll never really know who they are or what they’re up to.” Vinti also appreciates the value of the inspiration that people-watching provides. She says: “I also think you can never make someone from your imagination that’s as interesting as someone you’ll see in real life.”
Vinti graduated from the University of Brighton and at the 2020 World Illustration awards she picked up a New Talent award. She works in pencil, pen, collage and paint, and is part of the Small Fry Collective, which partners with Elephant Academy and the Association of Illustrators on events and workshops for creatives.
“In the past couple of years, I’ve had to find inspiration closer to home, which, luckily, is everywhere in London”
Vinti’s wider practice is rooted observations of the world around her. “When I started out,” she remembers, “I was really interested in travel and capturing warm and sunny places. But in the past couple of years, I’ve had to find inspiration closer to home, which, luckily, is everywhere in London.”
In March 2022, Vinti’s debut children’s book, The Looking Book, is published. It’s an interactive activity book to inspire painting, drawing, writing and creativity. “It encourages children to look closely and be inspired by the world around them,” Vinti says. As well as the activities, there are also profiles of artists from David Hockney to Sister Corita Kent.
This signed print is available in a strictly limited edition of 50.
