a chinwag with alice williams
We can never have too many cards, and the extra subscriber card tucked into issue 130 is a super-sweet one, we reckon. It features a carefree cat by London-based illustrator Alice Williams (@byalicewilliams), who came up with the idea during a sunny UK summer. It's a gentle reminder that it’s often the smallest things that bring the most joy. We caught up with Alice to chat about the making of the artwork, her favourite things and what she’s dreaming up next.
Tell us a little about your creative style. I love illustrating cats, in playful scenes surrounded by warmth and colour, often depicting cosy activities such as knitting or making soup. I’ve always been inspired by children’s books so my style encapsulates everything I love about the nostalgia of what I grew up with. Think Charlie and Lola, Frog and Toad, Babar and Miffy! There are pieces of all of them within my artwork.
When did you begin making art? I’ve always been found with a sketchbook nearby. Growing up, my world always centred around art and creating so it always felt like there was no other option to me. I started sharing my art online in 2017, first with fanart, which gave me the confidence to create my own original work. It wasn’t until 2023 that cats became the sole subject (I don’t remember the last time I drew a dog).
How did your artwork (now featured as a frankie card!) come to be? It was actually originally for my own art mail club! It was the piece for the month of June, so with it being summer in the UK I wanted to create an illustration that was lighthearted and playful. The phrase ‘Happiest with a trinket and sweet treat in hand’ came first, and I knew the illustration had to feature a carefree cat encompassing the feeling that it can be the small things that bring happiness to each day.
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Where do you find inspiration and creative motivation? I look for things that bring me joy in my own day-to-day life and my own want to be warm and cosy. I truly want to encapsulate the feeling of how comforting it is to be wrapped up in a blanket doing your favourite things like reading or knitting, so lots of my imagery relates to this. I also have a large stack of children’s books which hold illustrations I love, and having a flick through my extensive pile is a great way to get inspired by some of my favourite artists.
What’s next on your ‘to-create’ list? My dream is to have my own children’s books with my own characters, so I’m working on ideas to pitch to publishers soon. As well, my first book is coming out this month, which is very exciting! It is very surreal I get to do this as a job every day – I am forever thankful.
Where can we see more of your work? I share all my work on instagram @byalicewilliams and my website as well as sharing videos and other bits I get up to on tiktok @byalicewilliams!