Chickens and animals in general have always been a main inspiration throughout my artistic career. For my Art Scholarship project, I focused on chickens, now I have piles of black bind-books in my cupboard. Happy to say, like the trooper I am, I was awarded the scholarship!
My creativity route continued until it ‘slightly shifted’ when my Mother suggested “we already have one artist in the family, Cecily”. Thus I embarked on an Archaeology & History of Art degree, and have to add that its actually great, (please note: I have reflected on this during my holiday, with no coursework casting shadows .. ) I genuinely wouldn’t want to study anything else, it is fab!
But I had missed art so I started a sketchbook in my first year in halls. I drew the silhouette of an Indian Elephant, then after seeking guidance from my favourite designer (obviously apart from IzziRainey) Wiliam Morris, the pattern took shape and a vibrant orange filled in the gaps. Like a jig-saw, all the pieces fitted together and produced ‘Elephas maximus’, one of my most popular greetings cards.
Now entering my 3rd and final year at The University of Nottingham, Cecily May Rose has been thriving for a whole year, thanks to the help of the IzziRainey team – they are such a great outlet with the cards on their website and Not On The Highstreet AND a little Post Office in Guist. I like to think I pay them back through my interesting humour and ‘good attitude’ [– quote Izzi], this summer. As you can see the whole enterprise has gone global and like Zayne from One Direction, I was uncertain of being able to handle the public domain and demands of the press .. but .. I think I’m fine so far! So please, join the frenzy! And check them out online and follow my Instagram: cecily_mayrose.
Until next time chicks x
