![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/3e1703b4-34e0-4630-bc89-6d8c40c799db_rw_1920.png?h=7dcbc81571624fc974897ab23b1b6216)
I figured out early on in the process that my usual hard edged and geometric style of illustration wasn't going to suit an umbrella. So I approached the brief in a more organic way.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/63517bb3-3de2-4d10-9d9d-9dcf5cd234e7_rw_1920.png?h=a2f6a90a3b04e58a90f2aaf17c672977)
I started by visiting my local beach for inspiration and looked for shells, seaweed and different shapes in the sand and in the water. I also took a lot of photographs and brought them back to the studio where I began sketching with a pencil on paper
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/ff64ad6d-0f50-4655-b19c-cf00370c808b_rw_1920.png?h=b01f562fdaeb1a8260d95c47aa7a45c6)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/f8c258f6-1773-462f-8c9a-a42697f77387_rw_1920.png?h=abbcb0cdd71853e488f868bf49675327)
I then worked them up with paint and black pens.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/1068db81-6fae-4272-96c6-3c8e43291157_rw_1920.png?h=ddd6bc707990e4984916ee2f122e7e98)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/f7a81d63-8ae7-4f94-8f4a-164d8fbdaf31_rw_1920.png?h=1c60af1f71b7212375d8b8e58cbb903f)
The shapes were then scanned and imported into illustrator where I arranged them in different compositions until the balance felt right. I wanted the design to be visually interesting but not look overcrowded.
It was also important for the design to work from all sides, so I allowed some of the shapes to bleed off at the edges. My colour inspiration came from the ocean so I used shades of blue with a lemon yellow for contrast.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/bf1cdfab-f99a-4d9d-9009-19c0f4ab7ede_rw_1920.png?h=9ef33c23d24d757669a6360e29b29f8b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/b6e2c6bd-9e6a-43b5-bd33-92fc8fd45393_rw_1920.png?h=9ae66a01463b595d0647aa435214ff4d)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/eb7a8cca-7f1a-4cbd-9bd6-299177489deb_rw_1920.png?h=fb32b8c1ade4ecd23f60b6ff531bb3fc)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/c5f52c60-0a37-4373-bbc2-56ad71319e8f_rw_1920.png?h=9b586eea2976c8892a78a4ecb3898d79)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/9f60376d-4c90-432d-96c6-091ac343e0fe_rw_1920.png?h=9b40dae901a656d40982af95a4918b2c)
Then I produced a mini series of Limited Edition art prints inspired by the design and available on my website.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/aa310cb5-3ff5-4fbf-bdae-6559486494b8/a305d470-128b-482f-8d45-f5cda1637aec_rw_1920.png?h=674e17af02a2555a01e7f398833a4e67)