Today we’d like to introduce you to Niki Pilkington.
Niki, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a Welsh illustrator who recently moved to LA, producing highly charged, trend-inspired fashion illustrations.
I studied fashion illustration & promotion in London & after graduating in 2009, I was quickly picked up by an agency & gained my first clients as a self-employed illustrator. My client list includes the likes of MTV, TOPSHOP, Nike, Google, Facebook, Ted Baker, Sir Paul McCartney & American Express. As well as creating artwork for brands & clients, I also sell my prints in retail stores & online.
I’d always wanted to travel & working for myself meant this was totally do-able. After kicking off my career in London, I moved to Paris for a couple of years to work full time as a freelance illustrator, then to New York for almost five years. New York was incredible but it was never meant to be forever, so a move to the West Coast seemed like the obvious choice, in all its neon glory.
I now create all my artwork and prints from my space here in LA. As well as the commercial side of my work, which I create from my space most days, I’m also getting to be part the community here in LA, taking part in pop-ups, hosting in-store events & just generally getting to work more interactively with my customers, which I adore.
Although I don’t get to spend as much time in Wales as I’d like, I travel back 2-3 times a year & my work still strongly reflects my roots, often depicting Welsh quotes & sayings in a fun contemporary way. I sell my prints in stores all over Wales & the UK, so getting home is important to keep them up to date on new stock, as well as getting my personal fill of the place I’ll always call home.
Has it been a smooth road?
As in any industry, there are always highs and lows, but I think the most common challenge so many of us face right now is the pressure of social media and the constant need to create content. That pressure can sometimes ruin the creative process, as some things really need time to evolve, but the nature of social media is that it’s fast-paced.
As a freelancer, I have to go with the paid jobs when the right ones come along, but this can sometimes mean gaps on my special where I can’t post for a while. That pressure is tough (especially when you see your followers dropping because you’ve not been active for a while) but I have to keep reminding myself it’s about the quality of the work I’m creating, that’s always the end goal.
I’d say my biggest struggle is being copied. It happens daily (and now, imitation is definitely not the sincerest form of flattery, it’s heartbreaking and feels like a punch to the stomach every time I see my work ripped off), but I’ve come to the realization that it’s the nature of the beast, and if I want people to see my work on social media, I have to be prepared to be copied. I now just turn it into a catalyst to work even harder.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
In short, I’m an illustrator, who spends her days creating fun artwork, but there’s a lot more to it than most would imagine. As for me as a brand, it’s been 10 years of hard graft to get to this point, but I honestly wouldn’t change anything. I’ve had to learn the ropes as I go because there really isn’t a handbook for this stuff & every new client or job is a new exciting experience to learn from. I take what I can from each experience & grow from that – good or bad it’s all an important part of developing as a creative. As I’m sure any freelancer will tell you, being a one-woman band is hard because I’m not only an artist, I’m also a photographer, editor, accountant, promoter, negotiator and all the other hats that come with the territory. Over the years, I’ve been able to build a client list that I’m so proud of & taking the leap to sell prints was an obvious step, I just feel so lucky that others love what I do enough to have it hanging in their homes, offices, shops, boutiques, salons, etc. & to gift them to their nearest & dearest.
I pour my everything into my pieces, so every single sale truly means the world to me. Social media is a big part of what I do & I am very grateful for that. The ability to be able to reach out to thousands of people in one post is invaluable, but not without its struggles too – it’s time-consuming & frustrating at times, but the rewards can be so huge that it’s usually worth all the yucky stress.
About my work:
My playful yet highly detailed style feeds off a love of making life a little bit dreamier, focusing mainly on color, quotes, lifestyle, fashion & the people who wear it. I’d say that my use of neon in my art is what catches people’s eye at first, but I’m hoping they stay & fall in love with my unique style & uplifting content.
Women empowerment & body positivity are a huge part of my message, it’s something that is so important to me so spreading some self-love, especially in such an image-conscious part of the world is incredibly rewarding.
LA gives off so much color. Whether it’s meeting eclectic personas with unconscious and unapologetic styles, to forever changing neighborhoods to scout. There are so many authentic cultures and communities with stories to be told. I’m loving every minute of creating in such a colorful environment and making it that little bit more neon.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
My biggest advice to anyone wanting to start out in this industry would be to find your style and make it your own. Work hard at creating a look that is unmistakably yours. Not everyone will love what you do, but that’s not a bad thing, to be honest, life would be boring if we were all the same, so whether they like what you do or not, just make sure they know it’s 100% you.
Pricing:
- Large prints $25
- Standard prints $15
- 6 pack of cards $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NikiPilkingtonUS
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikipilkington/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikipilkingtonillustration
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