interview with an illustrator
Katharine Asher
Inspired by all things
natu ral from Samba to
snake skin, she invites
us into her prolific
creative world. . . .
u SB Personal highlight of the year? Katharine: Playing
percussion in the London Festival Carnival Procession as part
of Bloco do Sol Nascente. u SB What drew you to illustration/
design? Katharine: I was brought up on a farm on Dartmoor. I
used creative play to fill the social void and now I make a living
from my favourite past time, how lucky am I!! u SB Do you
have any formal design training? Katharine: Diploma in Graphic
Design; Torbay College of Art & Design, LSIAD in Illustration;
Harrow College of Art / London, BA Hons degree in Fine Art;
UWE Bristol - specialising in sculpture. u SB Where do you
live now & what drew you there? Katharine: I live in Bristol, I
left London when I married my ex husband who worked at the
Natural History Unit for BBC Bristol. u SB Where is your studio
and can you describe it for me? Katharine: My studio is in the
original stable block belonging to my house. It’s two storeys
high and I work in the converted hayloft, sharing the building
with three other businesses. u SB How do you get your ideas?
Katharine: The commission is the inspiration for each job. u SB
Do you collect anything? Katharine: I’ve always collected bones
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