Inside the magical world of illustrator Johanna Basford

Can you please introduce yourself and what you do to our readers? 

Hello! I’m Johanna Basford, illustrator and ink evangelist — which basically means I prefer pen and pencils to pixels! I create intricate, hand-drawn blackand-white artwork that is predominantly inspired by nature. My artwork has been used on everything from gin packaging to book covers, tattoos and even cars, but I’m probably most well known for my collection of adult colouring books.

Take us back to the start — how did your signature style evolve? 

Well, like many great creative decisions, it was a bit of an accident! I studied printed textiles at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee, but like most art students, was perpetually broke. I couldn’t afford a laptop or a digital camera, so I specialised in silk screen printing – the traditional craft of printing fabrics by hand. But different coloured inks were expensive, so I began to work solely in black and white. To offset this lack of colour in my portfolio, I decided to make the artwork as intricate and detailed as I could. The upside was when it came to graduation, my collection really stood out. I then began working as a freelance illustrator from a desk in the corner of my flat, juggling creating artwork for clients with a couple of part-time jobs to pay the bills.

Your first colouring book changed everything. How did Secret Garden come about? 

Fast forward to 2011, a publisher asked if I’d like to make a colouring book for kids. My black-and-white artwork lent itself well to the colouring format, but I didn’t want to create a simplistic book of big shapes and cute characters. I wanted it to be beautiful and elegant, so I pitched the idea of a colouring book for adults. The publishers were a little hesitant to say the least — this was before adult colouring books became a category, so nobody was sure if it would sell! A few months before publication, I heard from my editor that they had printed 13,000 copies. I panicked and immediately called my mum, begging her and her friends to buy multiple copies, as I wasn’t sure if I’d be asked to give the advance back... and I’d already spent it! I needn’t have panicked — we sold them all in a few months, then went to reprint several times over. In the end, Secret Garden sold millions worldwide, sparked a global trend and even caused shortages in colouring pencils!

Where do you find inspiration for your magical books, particularly during tough times? 

Being a country girl at heart, I was always drawn to nature. It’s my happy place and I find it calming not only to be in these spaces, but to recreate them on paper. Whether it’s a walk up a hill or along a beach, exploring woodland or wandering around a castle garden, I try to soak up as many beautiful images as I can, then allow them to percolate into compositions. Often I get my best ideas whilst walking, so I’ll grab my phone and record a voice note to remind myself — for fear of the inspiration slipping away by the time I get back to the studio! I listen back to the recordings later and hear things like ‘giant owl perched on a tiny house’ with my boots tramping through mud in the background... It’s a slightly odd way of working, but it works!

Talk us through the process of bringing one of your books to life? 

It all starts with a theme. For example Worlds of Wonder — which I created during lockdown — was intended as a magical journey, allowing people to go on an epic adventure without leaving their homes. I get a big sheet of paper and scribble every single idea I can think of: floating islands, underwater castles, hillside villages... the lot! I work in pencil first, sketching out the entire page, figuring out the composition and making changes. When I’m happy with the pencil art, I then trace over it in ink and add lots of details. The final drawings are scanned into the computer, tidied up digitally (usually removing things like chocolate fingerprints and any large smudges!) and sent to my publisher. I’ve been told I could work faster if I drew digitally but I adore the tactile process of drawing by hand — wobbly lines, imperfect circles, smudged fingerprints. It gives my drawings a sense of character and brings me the most joy.

With so much inspiration, your studio must be a hive of activity — what’s it like inside? 

I’m extremely lucky and have two studios! I have a little attic space at home, with a big, bright window looking out over the fields that surround our house. Until a few years ago, this was where all my work was done, but with two small children working from home became tricky. So I took a space in the town of Ellon which is bigger, with less of a view but lots of wall space for pinning up artwork and plenty of storage for my supplies. Both studios have jam jars stuffed with pens and pencils, stacks of my favourite sketchbooks and a steady supply of tea! I still draw with the same supplies I used in art school — Staedtler pigment liners were the best pens I could afford back then, and they’re still the pens I use today.

What would you say is your biggest success as an artist and entrepreneur? 

I always feel deeply humbled when people share stories of how my books have either allowed them to rediscover their creativity or helped them through a tricky chapter in their lives. People have told me that colouring has helped them handle stress and anxiety, from business executives to students, busy mums and chemotherapy patients. During the pandemic I got so many messages from people, particularly frontline workers, who told me they were using colouring as a way to cope. I did daily live tutorials during the first lockdown and gave away free downloads of colouring pages. It was a lovely way to connect with people and share a spot of sunshine in a dark time.

And what about your biggest challenge? 

That came just after my daughters were born. The colouring book trend was peaking and global demand for my work was crazy. I took nine days of maternity leave after having my second daughter, Mia, and Evie, my first, was still a toddler. I had a baby sleeping under my desk in her Moses basket and I’d be trying to stay awake after another sleepless night, navigating contracts from lawyers in New York, replying to emails from a publisher in Brazil and on a conference call with my agent in London. I felt completely torn between my young family and work — the vision, I was told, was to grow a global lifestyle brand but I spent less and less time drawing and felt I was failing as a mum. So I stripped it all back and decided to focus on only creating art that made my soul happy and looking after my little family. It was a decision I’m yet to regret.

You grew up in and still call Aberdeenshire home. How would you spend a perfect day off? 

I’m an early bird, so I love a sunrise breakfast on the beach with my kids. We pack flasks of hot chocolate and coffee, little pots of porridge and head to the dunes to say good morning to the seals and eat breakfast with a view! After that we’ll go to one of our favourite places with friends: Fyvie Castle, Haddo House, Pitmedden Gardens or Den Wood are all good spots to play and share a picnic. If we’re treating ourselves, we’ll head to Coffee Apothecary in Pitmedden or Ellon for a hot chocolate and a cake, or over to Barra Berries in Oldmeldrum for a legendary ice cream. And if I have a little time on my own, I pop over to Collieston beach or Hackley Bay with my wetsuit and a few friends for a dip in the sea. Aberdeenshire has a little bit of everything — forests, beaches, mountains, castles, gardens — and I’m biased, but I think the folk in my wee corner of the world are lovely!

Tell us, what’s next for you? 

There’s always a new book in the pipeline — I have more ideas than I will have time on this earth to draw them all! The new book (which is book number ten!) is called Rooms of Wonder and allows people to step 81 inside some weird and wonderful rooms – so far there’s a gem room, an origami studio, a weather room and a robot workshop! I’m also excited to be working with The Archie Foundation on a very special charity project for The Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital this year

Finally, readers have the opportunity to colour one of your designs in the magazine. What are your top tips? 

Put your phone away and grab some colouring pencils (pens work too, but the ink can bleed which can be annoying). I’d suggest working in a limited colour palette if you find choosing colours tricky. Pick five pencils, put the rest away and colour the entire picture in just those colours. This reduces the tricky decision-making and also gives your finished piece a nice cohesive look. Don’t worry if you go over the lines – I do this all the time! And lastly, share your creation: stick it to the fridge, share it with family, or post a photo to social media. Whilst the creative process is a solitary pursuit, it’s nice to share what you’ve made with the world! 

Follow Johanna’s inky adventures on Instagram @johannabasford or at johannabasford.com