Hi Fontaine! We didn’t meet up in Melbourne for the show because you are based in the UK. What got you out there, what are you doing there?

I have only been here six months, but I came partly to escape my parents telling me to have children and settle down and partly to see what I could find! My first job here was in textile design but I currently work for a design house that only does books. I have also done freelance work for the Guardian and the Telegraph as well as a childrenswear design studio in Denmark called Soft Gallery.

Ha! That’s really funny…. we get the same pressure, it’s normal. You are from South Adelaide, a totally different environment. What do you miss about home?

I miss the wide open spaces, the clean streets and the warm weather.

Your work and subjects is a mix of cultures and styles. Tell us a little bit about your work. What is the inspiration behind pieces.

I love fashion and textile designers, I get a lot of inspiration from magazines such as Lula, Visionaire and British Vogue. I am also inspired by different cultures – I love African masks, British suits of armor and the Japanese kimono. I also love nature and animals.

Tell me a little bit about the Poketo wallet you did. The girl you drew is so cool, kind of has this 60s, Japanese vibe to it. Am I totally off or??

The illustration was originally for my friends who own a retro clothing shop in Adelaide so I wanted the drawing to have a distinctly 60′s vibe. Japanese anime, textiles and patterns have always interested me and the dotted line I use is influenced by traditional Japanese sashiko embroidery.

Ah, I was on the right track. Thanks so much for the chat Fontaine!

Check out Fontaine’s poketo here
Visit Fontaine at fontaineillustration.com.