Meet the Artist Behind Candy Crush: Rachel Parker đš
One of the most joyful parts of creating Sheila May Swim is teaming up with incredibly talented artists from around the world. Theyâre the magic-makers behind the eye-catching prints you see on our swimmersâand letâs be honest, we couldnât do what we do without them!
Recently, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with UK-based surface pattern designer Rachel Parkerâthe brilliant mind behind not one, but two sell-out prints from our Candy Crush collection: Skylight and Party Spot. If youâve worn them (or missed outâsorry!), you already know just how special her work is.
In this Q&A, Rachel shares a peek into her creative process, what inspires her, and how these joyful prints came to life. Letâs dive in...
Tell us a little about yourself! Where are you from, what are your hobbies and passions?
I live in Northamptonshire in the UK where there are lots of countryside walks and green places to explore, which I absolutely love. I live with my boyfriend and two dogs, weâve just bought our first home together and itâs a big project which feels all-consuming at the moment! If you follow me on Instagram youâll see that my stories are a strange mixture of pretty patterns and photos of our crumbling house as we plan to tackle the majority of the work on our own. One of my favourite things to do is to head to the beach in our converted campervan, weâve travelled all over the country (with the dogs!) and being out in nature is endlessly inspiring to me. My boyfriend loves to surf, I like to have a quick dip in the sea and a long walk on the beach, then get cosied up in the van with my sketchbook.
What inspires your artwork? Are there particular themes, places, or memories that influence your designs?
I think if you try to view the world through an imaginative lens then inspiration can be found anywhere. Travelling to new places in the campervan definitely helps, but I feel just as inspired by watching the changing sunlight in the garden or looking through an interiors magazine. Often the best designs come when you take the pressure off and just play around with what feels fun â that's not always easy if you have a deadline, but I think if Iâve really loved creating a piece of art then it shines through in the finished products. Needless to say, I loved creating the pieces for Sheila May!
Can you share the story behind the artwork featured in your Sheila May Swimwear collaboration?
Skylight and Party Spot are honestly two of my favourite designs, so it feels magical seeing them paired together so beautifully for this collaboration. I love designing fabrics that feel like sunshine, which was the inspiration for Skylight; I was trying to capture the sunlight and wanted to create a painterly design that felt like it was flowing across the fabric. And Party Spot is just the most fun print! I think Iâve created over 30 colourways of it by this point, itâs such a crowd pleaser and I think it just feels like a real celebration pattern. I loved recolouring it to pair with Skylight, itâs such a fun combo.
How did it feel seeing your art come to life on swimwear?
Iâve been dreaming of seeing my designs on swimwear for so long, when I saw those first sneak peeks of the photoshoot it was a real pinch-me moment! I canât wait to be down at the beach wearing my art in the sunshine, thatâll be so special.
What message or feeling do you hope people take away when they wear your designs?
Thatâs an easy one; my number one goal is for people who wear my designs to feel happy! âSpark joyâ is a phrase thatâs probably overused but it definitely applies here. My favourite thing is when people message me to say that they wore one of my prints that day and felt really good, I canât ask for more than that.
What first sparked your love for creating art, and how has your journey as an artist evolved over time?
Like most creative types I was always drawing from a young age; I remember getting a plastic suitcase full of art supplies as a present and it being my prize possession. My career has all kind of unfolded in the traditional way, I went to art school where I tried a bit of everything and then decided fabrics were what I loved the most, so I specialised in Textiles for my degree. I graduated 15 years ago, and Iâve been a full-time designer for the last 4 years.
Where else can people find your work or other collaborations you have worked on?
Iâve worked with quite a few Australian companies, I think my prints just resonate with the sunshine! Saltwater Picnic Co and Karla Cola are a few that spring to mind, and if youâre into sewing then you can find a selection of my designs on fabric with Melco and Cloth Cuts. Many of my other clients ship worldwide, so if youâre looking for colourful fabric, phone cases, art prints or wallpaper then look no further!
You can find all my links on my website: www.rachelparkerdesigns.co.uk or come say hello on instagram @rachelparkerdesigns
What message would you like to share with aspiring artists who dream of seeing their work on fashion and swimwear?
This is always a difficult one to answer because honestly, itâs such a tough climate at the moment. Everyoneâs feeling the pinch and I think my fellow designers would agree that itâs a challenging time for our industry thanks to the rise of AI which can churn out a repeating pattern in just a few clicks. I would say you have to absolutely 100% LOVE what you do in order to survive in this industry now, you have to eat, sleep and breathe design, and you have to be ok with rejection. Youâll get 50 noâs, but then that one âyesâ will make you feel on top of the world. Iâm so grateful for beautiful brands like Sheila May who value artists and want to celebrate the stories behind the art that we make, it honestly means so much and itâs what gets me out of bed in the morning!
Whatâs next for you as an artist? Any exciting projects on the horizon?
Ooh yes lots of fun things but not much I can talk about unfortunately, isn't that always the way! I have some quilting cottons coming out next year with a new client that Iâm really excited about...and if youâre a fan of colourful clothing then you might want to keep an eye on Karla Cola, we have some good things in the pipeline!
Rachelâs words (and art!) really do speak for themselvesâjoyful, sunshine-filled, and created straight from the heart. We feel incredibly lucky to have her as part of the Sheila May Swim story, and we know so many of you have fallen in love with Skylight and Party Spot just as much as we have. Keep an eye outâit's highly likely another Rachel Parker original might pop up in future collections đâš
