Inspiring Women – Meg Harriet: Folklore, Nature And A Sprinkle Of Joy

Ahoy, sailors! Gather ’round as we set sail into a truly magical and comforting world. For this new installment of our Inspiring Women series, we’re delighted to welcome the wonderful Meg Harriet. Based in the beautiful coastal county of Devon, UK, Meg is an illustrator and surface pattern designer who weaves nature, local folklore, and delightful animal characters (yes, including goofy frogs!) into her work. Since discovering her passion for pattern design during the 2020 lockdown, she has been on a mission to add a "sprinkle of joy" to our everyday lives. Through her unique blend of traditional textures and digital techniques, Meg creates pieces that feel just like a comforting, warm storybook. Let's dive into her creative process, her love for local myths, and her dreams of bringing her playful creatures to little adventurers everywhere! To kick things off, tell us a bit about yourself. How did your journey into illustration begin, and what led you to specialize in surface pattern design?

Hi sailors! My name is Meg, and I am from the UK. I go by Meg Harriet as my artist name. Fun fact: my middle name is Harriet! I have always loved creating imagery and storytelling, but my journey really started when I went to study Illustration at the University of Plymouth in the UK. I fell in love with surface pattern design after I graduated and immediately went into the COVID lockdown. I ended up experimenting and taking courses in pattern design, and I started to really love the work I was creating. It has only grown since then!




You mention that moving to Devon and being surrounded by nature has been a huge inspiration for you. How does the landscape of Devon influence the colors and motifs we see in your work today?

Yes! I was born in the Midlands and moved to Devon for university. I fell in love with it and haven’t left since! Devon is fascinating as you can walk or travel very little to be surrounded by beautiful countryside, and my favourites are the wonderful beaches! Nature has always been a huge inspiration, and the warm, comforting colours of nature really make me smile. I see how they bring comfort to others, too!



We love that your art is inspired by folklore and storytelling imagery. Do you have a favorite myth, story, or creature (like your frogs!) that you find yourself coming back to often in your sketchbooks?

Oh, I do love folklore! I love how every place around the world has its own magical and exciting stories! I really love any folklore surrounding witches, which is also why my fun animal characters always come back to play a part in my work, especially goofy frogs! My current favourite folklore is The Legend of Bowerman’s Nose, where a hunter called Bowerman ended up offending and disturbing a coven of witches who were trying to chase a hare as part of their ritual. They ended up transforming into a hare to lure him, and as punishment, turned him into stone. They also turned his hounds to stone to make Bowerman’s Nose and Hound Tor, two very famous sites in Dartmoor in the UK.



Your digital work has such a lovely, hand-painted feel with "fun textures," and we’ve seen you experimenting with traditional materials like pencils and watercolors recently. How do you balance digital and analog tools to achieve that unique warmth in your designs?

Thank you so much! I’ve always loved traditional mediums and the textures they create. I wanted to preserve as much texture as I can when I translate them into digital work. I would say I play around more with paints and pencils in my downtime or when I’m sketching up ideas, and then when I need to refine them, I take it to digital to have a clearer final piece without taking away the fun textures that make my work feel like me.



Your aim is to "make work that makes people smile" and add a "sprinkle of joy everyday." Why do you think it’s important to create art that focuses on happiness and comfort in today's world?

I have really come to rely on these sayings, as the world is constantly full of fear, war, and conflict. This is always very overwhelming, and some days it feels like I can’t do anything to help. So, my work is really to provide people with something—no matter how small it might be—to feel some joy and remind ourselves that we must try to keep hope. If we can sprinkle some joy to everyone we meet, then the world will be a happier place.



From a sketch in a notebook to a finished pattern on a suitcase or a phone case, what does your creative process look like? Do you have any rituals when you sit down to draw?

I have a very all-over-the-place process. I can have days when I am full of inspiration and days where I can’t draw anything. On those days, I just have fun. I make lines and swirls and use my little sketchbooks to remind myself to have fun. Sometimes I then get a spark of an idea, and I continue to work on it and play in Procreate on my iPad until I feel like it is finished. But I feel like I could continue finalising work forever!



Looking ahead, is there a dream product or a specific collaboration you haven't done yet but would absolutely love to see your patterns on?

My dream would be to work with children’s products, especially clothing! Little sparks of joy on tiny little clothes would feel like the perfect collaboration that would make everyone smile! Hopefully soon, my dream can come true so my fun patterns and silly creatures can have adventures on little adventurers!



What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators who are trying to find their own style and voice in the world of surface design?

Keep going! It may feel like you have no idea what to do, but just draw. Daily! It’s so important, as you will start to find colours and motifs that resonate with you. I’m still learning every day! Have fun! If you’re not loving what you do, others will see it too. I hope you can find your own piece of joy that makes you smile!




We are incredibly grateful to Meg for anchoring her ship with us today and sharing her heartwarming journey! Her dedication to spreading joy in a sometimes overwhelming world, and her beautiful translation of Devon’s nature and folklore into surface patterns, are truly inspiring. Meg reminds us of the importance of playing, having fun in our sketchbooks, and finding magic in the everyday. To our fellow sailors, make sure to follow Meg’s delightful work on Instagram and keep an eye out for her lovely patterns, hopefully, we'll see her silly creatures on tiny clothes for little adventurers very soon! Until next time, keep smiling and stay inspired.

To our readers, we encourage you to follow Meg on Instagram and step into her joyful, story-filled world. With so many playful ideas and magical creatures waiting to come to life, there are surely many more moments of wonder and “sprinkles of joy” for her to share.

Interview conducted by Agostino Lo nardo, part of Don Fisher’s crew.