Say Hello to… Anna’s Drawing Room

Today we welcome back Anna’s Drawing Room, this time at Brighton Open Market on Sunday 29th March. Find out more…

Please introduce yourself and your brand….

Hello! My name is Anna Vartiainen, and my brand is called Anna’s Drawing Room. I draw bird and plant illustrations which I make into prints, cards, tea towels and notebooks.

How would you describe your style and your creations?

My style is quite simple and largely monochrome – I enjoy the natural shapes of what I’m drawing and use those shapes and lines to compose the design. I sometimes add some colour or basic shapes but I try not to mess with the images too much.
I use a lot of eco-friendly materials to make my creations. This is a very important quality for me – I need to respect nature as it is my inspiration!

What do you enjoy most about your work?

The best thing is the freedom to just try something and see what I enjoy and what works. It feels magical when you try a new brush or tool and discover a new creative technique. If I’m not feeling so confident it’s just as nice to go back to my favourite pen and draw something new, seeing what appears on the page. I also love the community and fun of selling at markets, seeing and speaking with real people!

What can we expect to find on your stall at The Fairy Tale Fair Brighton this Spring? And are you looking forward to taking part?

Of course I’m looking forward to taking part! I will have all my prints and cards with me, my new tea towel designs and one-off cards and notebooks that are not in shops or online.

Do you have any plans or ambitions for the future?

I want to produce images and homewares that people will treasure forever. One day I would like my work to be stocked by my favourite big companies. If not, some equally lovely smaller companies will be just fine 😉