Since 1998 I have worked in a number of trend led senior design and creative roles in global brand, beauty, fashion and retail organisations. My in-house work has offered me the opportunity to create concepts, illustrations, designs, products and brand marketing campaigns across both digital and print, through to packaging and gifting products.

I’ve been really fortunate to see my creative concepts and design work featured in global ATL marketing campaigns featuring Katy Perry, and shot by David LaChapelle and Ellen Von Unwerth. In 2021, after two decades working in the creative industry, I decided to explore further the part of my previous roles that brought me the most joy - illustration and surface pattern design - and Rae Rose Surface Pattern and Illustration was born.

Inspiration and process

I have a particular passion for wild nature, and the folktales and folk art that were part of my childhood in the north of England and south of Ireland. I love to share the stories and folk magic beliefs that are woven into the history and customs of the British Isles in my work, in addition to the magical natural world outside my studio on the edge of Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire, UK.

My style of illustration and surface pattern design is highly detailed, theatrical, maximalist, dramatic, and often full of bold and highly saturated print motifs. I have a well developed practice of working in graphite, making intricate shaded drawings in a representational style before moving digitally to colour and develop my pieces further.

My process and my creative point of view often lends my work a modern vintage and luxury feel that often echoes the finished look and feel of traditional lithography print; which resonates in particular with homeware, maximalist interior, gifting and textile design sectors. I have also extensive experience of working to trend led design briefs, and assessing both short and long range forecasted trends and insight to plan, create and deliver collections.

I am available for commission of surface pattern design, illustration and product design through art licensing and client project work. I am proud to be a Patternbank designer, with a selection of my work available to buy and licence by following the link below:

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surface pattern, design & illustration commercial experience

  • 5 years working as the Head of Trend and Creative Direction for a global luxury beauty brand including designing products, surface pattern and packaging featured in high value ATL campaigns

  • 12 years as a commercial graphic designer and illustrator across multiple creative sectors

  • 6 years working both in house and freelance for agency to produce design for packaging, retail products, giftware, apparel and campaign concepts

Education & professional training

  • Member of the AOI (Association of Illustrators)

  • BA (Hons) Illustration, National Diploma in Art & Design, Art Foundation and other academic qualifications in art

  • Fashion concepts, trends and ideas - London College of Fashion

Follow me on Instagram

For regular updates on new designs, preview sketches and work in progress click the button below: