Introduce us to you and your brand!
My name is Liana and I’m the artist behind Edinburgh Illustrations. I work out of my studio in Leith and draw large architectural drawings responding to the environment, structure and materials within cities around Scotland. Lots of mark making, large canvases and plenty of ink. Needless to say my studio is often a mess.
How has your brand developed since you began?
My style has always been large drawings but since starting I have branched out into coasters,
calendars and cards.
How did you find out about SDX? And what made you apply to sell with us?
I had been aware of SDX as I knew new people who sold in the shops, it's a great platform to sell work. Being able to curate your own space is fantastic.
What would you consider to be the most challenging aspect about being a working artist?
New work and keeping up with orders and commissions. I never say no to work.
What do you consider to be your most popular product?
I drew Murrayfield Stadium and it has proved to be my most popular print last year! It was the first big drawing I had done when my studios opened again.
What piece are you the proudest of?
I love my Kelpies drawing using crosswords. I staple gun large sheets of paper onto my studio wall and work from there. It became fairly huge!
What have you found to be the most challenging aspect to your business since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020? Non essential shops being closed. These include printers and framers so being able to continue making work was hard.
How have you spent your time during lockdowns? A lot of walks, cycling, video games and trying new ideas with work and hanging out with my 2 cats. I started cycling more which has been great for getting a bit further out of the city when the weather is nice.
How do you think shopping and retail may change after the pandemic ends?
I think people are wanting to support more local makers. Knowing where products are made, who they are made by and being more planet friendly is essential now. I think people will want to shop again and have the experience rather than fully online.
Do you have any past accomplishments you wish to share?
My drawings have been shortlisted for the Derwent and Jerwood Drawing prize and I have some work in “The Edinburgh Art Book”. A beautiful wee book with lots of artists' impressions of Edinburgh. You can see a lot of my original drawings in The Glasshouse Hotel in the corridors and whisky snug.
How did SDX being closed affect your business?
Massively, I sell lots of framed prints and it gives me a platform to engage with customers not through a social media channel.
What do you hope to gain from working with SDX going forward?
A growing client base and hopefully some sales further afield. The building of George Street is fantastic for showcasing big pieces and individual styles.
If you could share just one piece of advice to aspiring artists/designers who want to make a living from their creative talents, what would you tell them?
Keep motivated with new ideas and try out new ways to make work.
Tell us your favourite inspirational quote!
“The world will not evolve past its current state of crisis by using the same thinking that created the situation” - Albert Einstein
Thank you to Liana Moran for participating in our blog, you can help to support SDX and Edinburgh Illustrations by shopping her products at our Edinburgh, George Street shop and online!