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InspirationIllustration

Hellie Cartledge's paper-cut illustrations inspired by the 'little gems of life'

Hailing from Manchester, Hellie Cartledge, aka The Small Illustrator (she's five foot one), is a 2020 Illustration graduate from Camberwell College of Arts (UAL).

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Three visitors view colourful framed artworks displayed on a gallery wall, including landscapes and figurative pieces in Hellie Cartledge's paper-cut illustration style

Before lockdown, she had barely touched a pair of scissors, but now she can't seem to put them down. And she's used them to create the snipping-and-sticking scenes of serenity you see here.

As a storyteller, Hellie finds value in "the little gems of life": the everyday aesthetic and the mundane. Her creative process is all about falling in love with compositions and colours. Whether her inspiration comes from William Morris prints, droopy flowers or even the evening light, the moment it hits, her sketchbook is ready and waiting.

Now based in London, she says: "I am fascinated with objects of antiquity and creating narratives which give them a place and value in contemporary domestic spaces. I am prolific in my working method, I struggle to put the pencil down, believing that there are always more tales around me to be told."

Colourful paper-cut illustration featuring blue birds with green wings, a decorative teapot, lemon, and lemon slice arranged against a red patterned background and purple wall
Colourful paper-cut illustration of a pink vase with orange fish and striped details on a yellow checked base, with branching stems and white-petalled flowers against a burgundy background
Colourful paper-cut illustration of figures relaxing around a blue computer screen, with a potted plant and scattered objects on a pink background
Colourful paper-cut illustration of three green creatures in party hats and striped clothing performing circus acts around a wooden wheel on an orange and blue striped background
A figure with dark skin sits cross-legged surrounded by green foliage against a vibrant yellow background, wearing a lavender bikini and white top, with pink and pale blue shapes nearby
Colourful paper-cut collage showing a figure cooking in a purple pot with spice jars and kitchen utensils arranged on a patterned background
Person with long dark hair wearing lavender and coral clothing hugging a red heart, surrounded by pink paper-cut hearts on a textured pink background
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