Sketchpad Artist: Lyndsey Winnington

Lyndsey is one of the twenty Outhouse artists who has produced a limited edition cover for our Sketchpad range, she produced a cover for our A3 90gsm Tracing Pad.  This gave her the opportunity to design for Riso, something which she had previously never tried. We spoke to Lyndsey about her work, inspirations and how she got involved with the Outhouse.

Tell us a bit about the idea behind your sketchbook cover?

I find that drawing and painting can relax the mind in a similar way to meditation. In my cover design, I likened this to the hypnotic state, with the bear being mesmerised by the view he is sketching. I tried to keep the design simple as this was my first experience designing for Riso print.

How did you get involved with Outhouse?

I know the Outhouse organisers through attending the same local art events over the years. There is an abundance of pop-up galleries/shops/exhibitions and art themed nights in Manchester, meaning that any new artist can easily find a platform if they are prepared to get involved.

How would you describe your work?

Varied and explorative. I enjoy most mediums, and if I don't enjoy something immediately then I continue to explore until I find a technique that works for me. A few years ago I focused on wall art and acrylic on canvas, with figurative, fantastical themes. At the moment I am enjoying watercolour and ink. My current work is more impressionistic and illustrative. Mainly landscapes or wild animals.

What inspires you?

Animals, trees, people

Who is your favourite artist or maker?

It would be impossible to choose an overall favourite but David Hockney comes close. At the moment I am also very inspired by the work of a German watercolourist named Viktoria Prischedko

What materials do you use?

Watercolour, Ink, Acrylic, Aerosol, pastels, pencil crayons, oil paint, Brusho, Gouache & Graphite. Although I don't like to mix too many materials in one piece of artwork.

What is your favourite piece of work that you have made?

The 'Love Leads' piece I painted for Outhouse in 2013. The Komondor breed is stunning in itself. My version was larger than life, pink and lots of fun to paint.

What exhibition or art event have you been to recently that you think is worth shouting about and why?

I recently went to see KAWS at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. I was very impressed by the scale of the exhibition, but also by Roger Hiorns' 'Seizure' showing there. It's an actual London council flat lined with copper sulphate crystals. I don't know why he made it or what it means but it was a nice discovery & left me feeling inspired.

Do you have any advice for artists starting out?

Post your work and seek feedback from other artists online, or even through real-world exhibitions. Anything to gain a fresh perspective & keep up your momentum.

What tip would you give to people about one of our products?

The Dylon range is great for refreshing your wardrobe!

Where can people see your work? Do you have a website?

I have an Instagram account documenting my recent exploration of watercolour. Many of the sketches are of exactly the same view of Blackstone Edge on the Pennine Way, all drawn from life or memory. 

Images: 1 - Lyndsey's limited edition sketchpad cover 2 - 'Love Leads' Mural created for Outhouse in 2013 3 - 'Blackstone from Memory 49' from Lyndsey's SketchTheView series on Instagram