Lisa Stickley

Awards

• Nominated - CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Awards

Organisations

• Lisa is proud to be an author supporter of Coram Beanstalk

Details

I’m Lisa, an author/ illustrator and all round 'colourer-inner'. 

I write books, paint paintings, draw, doodle & host workshops for young and old alike.

I realised, having been drawing for well over 40 years, that aside from loving it as a career, it really makes me feel better too. SO I spend lots of my time these days doing just that. I host workshops for folk all over the world, lots in person and lots more live from my drawing board via Zoom. They are creatively inspiring but also very relaxing too, a bit of time-out giving you a monthly ‘re-boot’. 
 
I’ve also been working on a series of Doodling Books lately, guided drawing for you to do anytime, anywhere. They help you to feel better, and, similar to a shot of ginger & turmeric, are a SUPER BOOST for creativity too, especially if you're stuck in a bit of a rut.

Having trained as a printed textile designer at Central Saint Martins and The Royal College of Art, I founded my label Lisa Stickley London at the age of 22. I sold some of my very first products to Paul Smith, Designers Guild and the Cross here in London. After lots of hard work and a youthful bull-at-a-gate approach I was very lucky to collaborate with folk worldwide from Burberry, Harrods, Liberty, Tate, Selfridges, Heals, John Lewis, Boots, Debenhams and Japanese stores including Ships, Hankyu & Isetan, to name a few. I opened a shop in South London in 2007, wrote my first sewing book in 2010 and continued working in the textile world until 2015.

I took a break from business to have two little girls who sparked my passion for writing and illustrating stories for children. Inspired by our daughter’s everyday musings, I started combining the girls fresh untainted view of the world with my signature quirky style, adding in playful characters and utilising my distinctive textile patterns.

I’m very proud to have written & illustrated a number of Children’s books. I have even had the pleasure of reading a couple of them to HRH Princess Charlotte. 

In 2021 I was privileged to create illustrations for a campaign with England footballer Marcus Rashford + Aldi UK in raising awareness of Child Food Poverty, and was delighted to be invited back last year to illustrate a second campaign with Rashford and team supporting literacy.

Based in South London I host a number of local holiday ART clubs for children where we make, paint, draw, create and eat vast quantities of biscuits! I host weekly illustration clubs for local schools too.

I LOVE a school author visit, and thoroughly enjoy a packed day in a busy school doing draw alongs in assembly, followed by workshops galore where I can create characters with the children and get their creative juices flowing. Ideally these days will come with school lunch in-between, especially if there is custard on the menu! 

Having been lucky enough to have had such a varied career so far, I'd also be very happy to share my journey (the highs, lows, challenges, tears and delights) with students, soon to embark on their own career paths. I'm dyslexic and have strived hard to carve out a career that navigates the challenges, and advantages, that come with a dyslexic brain.

Mine has been a voyage of many chapters. As with many a creative career it hasn't been the smoothest, or easiest. But it's one I would never swop for anything.

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