Inspiring Women – Lydia Ellen: Capturing the Warmth of Everyday Moments from Norwich to Perth

Ahoy there, sailors! Get ready to drop anchor and cozy up as we welcome Lydia Ellen to our Inspiring Women series. An incredible freelance illustrator and mother of two, Lydia creates art that feels just like a warm, comforting hug. Originally from Norwich, UK, and now navigating life on the sunny coast of Perth, Australia, her journey is a beautiful tale of resilience and creativity.

Through her beautifully textured, hand-drawn digital illustrations, Lydia captures the magic of the mundane, cozy interiors, vibrant tablescapes, and peaceful gardening scenes, reminding us all to find joy in the little things. In this heartfelt chat, she opens up about how an unexpected move across the world gave her art a new purpose, how she balances the beautiful juggle of a thriving creative career with motherhood, and why building a supportive community is so important. Let’s dive right into her colorful world!

Ahoy sailors! My name is Lydia, and my life sure is full! I love all of my roles, and I am blessed to say that this career path has evolved organically and joyfully over years of trial and error. Six or so years ago, whilst living at my parents’ house with an incomplete illustration degree, a wedding around the corner, and a huge passion for art, I decided that if I wanted to make this thing my job, I needed to just start. I was doing commissioned pieces here and there on top of other jobs at the time, but my real dream was to be an illustrator. I began sharing my work online and reaching out to anyone who might need an artist, and slowly built up my portfolio.

You are originally from Norwich, UK, but now based in Perth, Australia. That’s a big change! How has the Australian lifestyle, the light, and the scenery influenced your color palette and the subjects you draw compared to back home?

It’s influenced my artwork in a lot of ways! The move over here was not a smooth transition; my husband was denied a UK Visa and given 30 days to leave, so we didn’t move by choice. I was struggling with an eating disorder at the time, and we had little money due to a year of lockdowns. The reason I tell you all this is to say that starting over in a new place has been my biggest muse for reasons you might not expect. Continuing to draw through that season became my way of feeling at home despite suddenly being 9,000 miles away. My desire became creating safe spaces in my work for anyone else feeling lost or alone. Eventually, I built a community here and received treatment, and Perth has become a second home to me, but my goal remains the same. The nature and colours here are wonderful and inspiring, but the journey my husband and I have been on to get to this point has influenced my work more than I could have ever anticipated.



Your work often features cozy interiors, delicious food tablescapes, and gardening scenes. What draws you to illustrate these "everyday moments"? Do you sketch from real life or from your imagination?

I love capturing ordinary moments and immortalising them into comforting illustrations. It makes the mundane feel special, and I think we could all benefit from finding more value in the everyday. Most of the time, my inspiration comes from real life; however, sometimes an idea will come to me out of nowhere, and that’s always a super fun challenge to try to get that image out onto the page.



We love how you engage with your community, like with your recent "February Prompt List." Why is it important for you to host these challenges, and what do you enjoy most about seeing other artists interpret your prompts?

These challenges have been crucial for me to keep creating regularly and not fall into a slump. I started them back in 2021 shortly after going full-time with my art, and it made sure that even when doing client work, I still practiced my own drawing. It’s such a fun way to meet other artists, and it never fails to amaze me how we all start with the same word and end up with completely different pieces! There are some familiar faces who have participated for years as well as new friends popping up along the way from all over the world. We support one another, and the community is something I'm really grateful for!



You describe yourself as a "full-time illustrator & mum of 2." Balancing a creative freelance career with motherhood is a true art form in itself. How do you manage to find time for your creativity in the day-to-day of parenting?

It is a beautiful juggle, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My eldest goes to daycare two days a week, so those two days are spent with my baby. So those are my official work days. My local library has a ‘bub at the hub’ room where you can keep your baby entertained whilst getting work done, so we spend a lot of time there. I also work evenings and weekends when my husband can take care of the girls. Sometimes my toddler will ‘work’ alongside me; she will sit with a sticker book or colouring whilst I do some sketching or emails. These moments are precious, and she loves to help me with a colour choice here and there. Each week looks different, but I always get the work done one way or another.



We saw your beautiful mini-calendar for Flow Magazin and your Australian icons poster. What has been your favorite project or collaboration so far, and why was it special to you?

I’ve been blessed to work on some amazing projects over the years. Recently, I designed a travel towel in collaboration with BUVANHA in the Netherlands. The quality of these towels is amazing, and my illustration was inspired by a place that’s very special to me called Margaret River, here in Western Australia. It is where my eldest took her first steps and really has everything I love about Australia. We were able to partner with Margaret River Community Pantry, who help locals struggling to feed themselves and their family. I think this is one of my favourite projects so far, both for the finished product we created and the good cause we could support through the profits.



Your illustrations have such a lovely, textured, hand-drawn feel, even though they are digital. What tools do you use, and do you have any tips for artists trying to make their digital art feel more organic?

Most of the time these days, I use the Procreate app on my iPad and a brush on the app called 'chalk'. My favourite medium though is probably oil pastels, and the chalk brush is the closest I have found which captures the oil pastel texture. I would say just keep drawing, every day if you can. That way you will quickly discover your favourite techniques and tools.



Looking ahead to the rest of 2026 and beyond, is there a specific goal, a dream client, or a new type of product you’d love to design for?

The more different jobs the better for me, as I find it fun to always be working on something different, but I would definitely love to collaborate with more sustainable brands. I also would like to make more products for my website, a colouring book, prints, etc. I have so many ideas I just need to make them happen!

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me; it’s an honour to talk with you about all things business and art and life! Don Fisher is wonderful and wholesome, and my girls are so fond of our little Bonitos. Thank you again!

We are deeply grateful to Lydia for sharing her honest and inspiring journey with us. Her ability to turn challenges into creative fuel and her dedication to finding magic in the "everyday" is truly motivating. From her beautiful collaborations to the supportive community she has built online, Lydia reminds us that art is not just about the final image, but about the connection and comfort it brings to others. We can’t wait to see how her work continues to evolve and what new "ordinary moments" she will immortalize next. To our readers, be sure to follow Lydia’s colorful adventures on Instagram and keep an eye out for her upcoming projects.

To our readers, we encourage you to follow Lydia on Instagram and stay connected to her cozy, colorful world. With so many ideas waiting to come to life and new collaborations on the horizon, there are surely many more beautiful “everyday moments” for her to illustrate and share.

Photograph by Berta

Interview conducted by Agostino Lo Nardo, part of Don Fisher's crew