Welcome to The Illustrarium! I’m Susie – an artist, illustrator, and maker based in rural Devon, where I’m endlessly inspired by the natural world around me. My studio looks out over the beautiful Devon countryside, and it’s from these everyday moments in nature that so many of my pieces begin.

Portrait of the artist inside a decorative hand-illustrated frame with florals, butterflies and botanical motifs.

Every design starts with a hand-drawn sketch – it’s the heart of my creative process. From there, I bring each artwork to life using a mix of watercolour, inks, and gouache, before refining the final piece in Photoshop. I love the rhythm of this process: drawing, painting, layering, and watching an idea slowly blossom into something joyful and full of colour.

My Creative Process

Hand-painted watercolour illustration of pink and yellow alstroemeria flowers beside brushes and a palette

Drawing has always been at the centre of my work. My sketchbooks are full of ideas – some botanical, some inspired by folklore or history, and some simply from imagination. This unicorn sketch is one of those pieces that began as a moment of storytelling on the page.

Colour inspiration usually begins with what I find around me – seasonal flowers, soft winter berries, the explosion of green growth along the Devon lanes in Spring, or a fascination with a period in history. I often mix fresh palettes directly from gathered blooms, exploring combinations until something sings.

Bouquet of colourful flowers next to an artist’s colour palette card with paint swatches.

🌸 Inspiration & My Visual World

I’m drawn to objects and details that hold stories – tiny treasures collected over time, pieces of history, textures, patterns, and colours that spark curiosity.

Bouquet of colourful flowers next to an artist’s colour palette card with paint swatches.

✨ What You’ll Find in My TBCH Shop

Everything you see here is designed by me and crafted with care. Quality and sustainability are incredibly important to me:

  • My art prints are produced using archival inks on beautiful 310gsm fine art paper

  • All stationery and cards are printed on FSC-certified paper

  • And every order is lovingly packaged in eco-friendly materials from my Devon studio

Eco-friendly packaging at The Illustrarium: pink tissue-wrapped parcels with patterned gift tags, twine, and studio tools.

In my TBCH shop, you’ll find a curated selection of illustrated art prints, greeting cards, eco-stationery, notebooks, notepads, bookmarks, and more. I’m also excited to be expanding my homewares selection soon too – tea towels are my first addition and I’m hoping to add cushions, washbags, and aprons featuring my signature hand-painted designs in the near future.

Handwritten message inside an illustrated greeting card, showing the artist’s personal touch.

One of my favourite personal touches is my handwritten message service: if you’d like to send a card directly to a loved one, I can handwrite your note inside.

My hope is that when your package arrives, it brings a small spark of joy to your day – and a touch of magic to your home.

theillustrarium-mosaic-pattern-inspiration.jpg

💌 Stay Connected

You’re warmly invited to visit my website if you’d like to stay connected – and if you join my mailing list, you’ll receive a 15% welcome discount to use here in my TBCH shop, along with early access to new artwork.

https://www.theillustrarium.com/newsletter

Thank you so much for being here and for supporting independent makers.


Susie x