The local artist who literally draws the line KL magazine catches up with Rachel Collier-Wilson, a local artist creating amazing designs and line-based work currently gracing everything from calendars and t-shirts to posters and phone cases... KL magazine: Did you always want to be an artist? Rachel Collier-Wilson: Absolutely. I was always the one that was ‘good at art’ at school and was fortunate to have some very encouraging teachers. Following an Art & Design foundation course, I was accepted to the Fine Art Printmaking degree at Central Saint Martins’ School of Art in London. I never really thought of doing anything other than making art.
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KL magazine: You grew up in the Peak District, you lived in London for a while and then spent some time in New Zealand - so what brought you to Norfolk? Rachel Collier-Wilson: It’s a fairly convoluted story. My father’s sister is buried in Cromer. She died in infancy in the 1920s while her parents (my grandparents) were on holiday, having travelled down from Stockport. My father wanted his ashes placed with his sister’s because he felt bad she’d been alone all that time, so my wife
and I visited Norfolk to carry out his wishes and we fell in love with it. The magnificent coast reminds my wife of her New Zealand home, and there’s a very vibrant cultural and artistic scene here. KL magazine: Your work has a very distinctive line-based style - why did you take that approach rather than oils, watercolours or pastels? Rachel Collier-Wilson: I’ve always drawn and I really enjoy describing the form of shapes. I love colour, but when painting I can sometimes overwhelm KLmagazine January 2021