Introducing Riso Print Extraordinaire and Colour Obsessive : Jaqueline Colley

We caught up with the screen print extraordinaire and colour obsessive Jaqueline Colley to chat about her bright illustrations, motherhood and Mid-century paper ephemera. You can explore Jaqueline's brilliant Limited Edition prints here or read below to find out more about her. 

Hi Jaqueline, we can see your based in East London like us! How long have you lived here for?

Yes we're very privileged as we bought our place in 2011 and the stability that has given me and my partner has really allowed us to pursue our respective careers. We’d lived all over Hackney and tower hamlets since we were at University so it made total sense to put down our roots here, it’s a special place.

What's your earliest memory related to art, design or Illustration? First museum visit or creative experience that had an impact on you?

I remember my older brother showing me how to turn two squares into a 3D cube and it blowing my mind we were both pretty into our Super Nintendo and I’d draw the characters; enlarging them from the game manual and we’d stick them on the walls around the tv! I grew up in Jersey CI so there wasn’t a lot of opportunities to visit galleries or museums but I was a Disney addict and a gamer!

 

Love is Power Gold and You Light Me Up both by Jaqueline Colley.

Are your colour fuelled designs based on places you have visited?

I’m super into the US probably because they are so good at exporting their culture, I’ve visited a couple of times leading to my New York and Palm Springs designs but while there I also love to hit the flea markets and antique shops and buy all the mid century paper ephemera and packaging I can get my hands on! It’s often silk screen or litho printed and has this gorgeous worn patina luckily so many people had the foresight to collect the packaging as what would have been considered throwaway was really so artistic which is why Warhol took so much inspiration from the everyday packaging.

Your beautiful ‘Love is Power’ screen print is a bestseller here at EEP, can you tell us what inspired you to create this piece?

It’s actually one of my oldest prints and it’s thanks to the team behind Brixton Design trail in 2017, they came up with the theme of ‘Love is Power’ which really spoke to me, I was taking part in a circus themed Crafty Fox Market as part of the design trail and when I think of circuses I think of those amazing old painted posters with snarling tigers and lions jumping through flaming hoops! I decided to use a tiger to symbolise Power and a briar rose for Love, then I hand drew all the elements including the typography, it was a fun design to make and kicked off a series.

Did you go to art school and if so, what did you study?

Yes after school I did an art foundation and from there a degree in Graphic Design for Communication - I really wanted a job and I knew that that was a vocational course but I spent my whole time answering briefs with drawing so I never got a job as a graphic designer! Luckily a girl I knew on the textiles course got a job at H&M and after interviewing i also got a graduate role out in Stockholm which led to 7 years working in high street fashion, I then went freelance in the hopes of making the work I really wanted to make which led to me creating my own products and working as an illustrator! At uni I just didn’t believe I could get a job that was essentially drawing for a living so I’m very grateful to have had all these experiences and then come full circle and found my happy place!

 

A6 Riso Zodiac Collection.

What do you do for fun outside of the studio?

I now have a 1 year old daughter so life is very different and fun activities are going to a music class or the playground but I’m also taking her to art galleries which she enjoys - lots of echoing space to crawl around and shriek in!

Quick Fire Questions:

• It’s Friday night, what’s your go to cocktail? Frozen margarita!
• If you could describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be? GO! Ginger, sci-fi, geek
• What is your last Google search? Tips for talking to your child to encourage speech
• What never fails to make you laugh? My Partner and Taskmaster - I love that silly programme!
• What’s your go-to karaoke song? Part of your world or under the sea! Little mermaid has some serious bangers!
• Salty or sweet? If it’s popcorn both please! 

You can explore Jaqueline's brilliant Limited Edition prints here.