26 June 2024

London in New Light: Lucy Davey Illustrates the Capital

Posted in: Illustration, Nature, Publishing

Pocket Mountains have commissioned Lucy Davey to create a fully illustrated pocket-sized walking guide for London.

It’s the twelfth title that Lucy has worked on for the publisher but the first to be illustrated throughout in full colour. Below, Lucy tells us a bit more about the work:

Which is your favourite illustration?

My favourite illustration is the swimmer getting out of the Serpentine for the Hyde Park walk. It feels like a peaceful, early morning moment. I like an open air dip myself which is perhaps why I always enjoy illustrating watery scenes. Luckily there’s lots of them in this book!

Did you find any parts challenging?

For me, the challenge with illustrating real life places is always finding a balance between being true to the subject, and making it recognisable, whilst maintaining my own style, and not getting too caught up in the details.

Did you learn any interesting London facts through the process?

I never knew there were so many lovely nature spots and wetland habitats around London, I’d really like to go and visit them with my binoculars. Also I didn’t know there was a hangman’s noose behind a pub in Wapping! I’m looking forward to hitting the streets of London with the guide and learning more.