Philippa Coules illustrates the outfits she wishes she owned

"Growing up was noisy, creative and a lot of fun," says Philippa Coules, an illustrator who was raised in a small town near Oxford. Creativity was always ingrained in her, largely due to her upbringing – one of eight siblings, four boys and four girls, the eldest daughter in a house that was rarely quiet. So even if she questioned at one point whether she was going to be a professional dancer, it was always, really, going to be an artist. "I think I always knew creativity would be part of my life in some way."

Once Philippa finished school, she went on to study Art Foundation before Graphic Communication at Bath Spa. Here, she honed her skills and began developing her language as an artist – and, so too, began to ponder how to turn this passion into a career. "Illustration was always where my heart was, but graphic design offered a clearer path," she explains, citing this as her reason for venturing into design post-graduation. Even so, illustration would always spring up alongside her work, and in 2017, she started to notice its impact. Instagram became her "visual diary", a kind of record of how her illustrations have developed over time. "It's fascinating to see both the shifts and the threads that have stayed consistent."

If you were to stumble across this account, then you'll be met with some gorgeously textured drawings for clients like Brochu Walker, Tiptoe Furniture and Apartment Therapy. There are also chic but wobbly interior scenes, like a kitchen laced in earthy green tones for the ceramic tiles, deep burgundy for the hanging lamp shades, or zoomed-in crops of a well-dressed character sporting polkadots and pink heels. A rough, sketchy grain brings them all together, which she creates with black pencil detailing on her iPad. And, of course, she brings some graphic design influences from her past jobs into these pieces, such as her use of colour, texture, and composition.

Inspired by retro references and the simplicity of modernism, her work feels considered but with a nod to the past. "I've always been drawn to strong silhouettes and colour, sometimes it's a bold combination, other times it's something really pared back that just feels balanced." She also looks to design books, street style, and interiors on Pinterest and Instagram as key sources of influence. "If I'm in a city, there's usually someone wearing something that makes me look twice, like an oversized coat with a tiny bag, or an unexpected colour pairing," she adds. "Those little moments tend to stick with me."

In one piece, Philippa has drawn an effortlessly cool woman wearing a loose-fitting, extra-large shoulder bag, kitten heels, and, of course, sunglasses, set against a calming pink backdrop. "This piece is one of my favourites because of its simplicity," she says.

"It's very much something I'd wear myself! I'm drawing outfits I'd love to own." In another, named What's in My Bag, she's revealed all the contents that someone might be carrying with them throughout the day – like a comb, flats, a scarf and an apple – " the everyday things that feel ordinary but are actually quite personal. It feels like a quiet way of telling a story about someone without showing them at all."

Femininity sits at the heart of her work, and she's thoughtful about how she expresses it. "I like showing women who feel comfortable in themselves – confident, self-assured and taking up space," she says. These are not complicated pictures and, quite frankly, are a welcome antidote to an industry that so often reaches for maximalism and loudness.