At Sheila May Swim, we love collaborating with talented Australian artists to bring our collections to life. But this collaboration feels a little different.
So when it came time to create artwork for our River's Edge collection, it felt incredibly special to have someone who knows the Sheila May Swim brand so well putting pen to paper.
Inspired by countryside adventures, riverside holidays, vintage florals and the colours of nature, Kat created a collection that feels warm, nostalgic and unmistakably Sheila May.
We sat down with Kat to chat about her creative journey, where she finds inspiration, the story behind River's Edge and her advice for aspiring artists dreaming of seeing their work on products one day.
I'm Kat, a graphic designer, illustrator and surface pattern designer based in Springfield just outside Brisbane, Queensland.
When I'm not working, you'll usually find me out exploring with my family. One of the things I love about living where we do is that we're only a short drive from beaches, rainforests, waterfalls and country towns, so we're always finding excuses to jump in the car and head somewhere new.
What started as wanting to create fun memories for my kids when they were little has turned into a bit of an obsession with discovering hidden gems and quieter places away from the hustle and bustle. Those little adventures have become one of my biggest sources of inspiration, and my camera roll is full of flowers, colours, birds, animals, quirky signs and random things I've spotted and thought, "That could make a great pattern!”
What inspires your artwork? Are there particular themes, places, or memories that influence your designs?
A lot of my work is inspired by places I've been, things I've seen and memories I've collected along the way. I love creating artwork that feels happy, colourful and full of personality. Nature is probably my biggest source of inspiration, especially Australian plants, flowers and wildlife. I'm also constantly inspired by family adventures, childhood memories and just the everyday moments that make you smile.
Can you share the story behind the artwork featured in your Sheila May Swimwear collaboration?
This collection was custom designed for Sheila May Swim and was inspired by relaxed winter escapes, riverside holidays and nostalgic countryside adventures.
The brief was to create an earthy-toned ditzy floral for the autumn collection, drawing inspiration from wildflowers, vintage florals and country landscapes. I loved the idea of creating something that felt warm, relaxed and a little nostalgic while still feeling fresh and fun.
The floral print became the hero pattern, and from there I created the coordinating check to complement it. (You can check out my design process here.) Because Sheila May is so well known for its mix-and-match swimwear, I was always thinking about how the different prints and colours would work together across the collection. One of my favourite parts of the process was balancing those warm earthy tones with the playful pops of pink, blue and green. It helped keep the collection feeling distinctly Sheila May, while still capturing that cosy autumn countryside vibe we were aiming for.
How did it feel seeing your art come to life on swimwear?
Seeing my work on physical products is always so exciting! As a designer, most of my days are spent looking at artwork on a computer screen, so seeing it transformed into something people can actually wear is pretty special.
It was also really nice seeing the collection photographed on real women. The photoshoot looked like so much fun, and seeing the prints styled across the range made all those hours spent designing them feel very real.
I've loved reading everyone's reactions to the collection too. It's been so nice seeing how much people are loving the prints and how they're styling the mix-and-match pieces. That's probably been one of my favourite parts of the whole experience.
What message or feeling do you hope people take away when they wear your designs?
More than anything, I hope people feel happy! I've always been drawn to colour and playful design, and I love creating artwork that brings a little bit of joy to everyday life. I know a lot of women choose Sheila May because the brand helps them feel confident and comfortable in their swimmers, so if my designs can add a little extra happiness to that experience, then that's a win for me.
What first sparked your love for creating art, and how has your journey as an artist evolved over time?
I've loved drawing for as long as I can remember. As a kid I was always colouring incollecting random treasures or making things.That love eventually led me to study illustration and I've now spent over 20 years working in the creative industry. While I started out focusing mostly on graphic design these days a lot of my work combines design illustration and surface pattern design which feels like the perfect fit for me.
Where else can people find your work or other collaborations you have worked on?
You can find my work through my business,
Little Black Kat Creative, where I mostly work with bright, colourful brands to create illustration-led branding. When I'm not working one-to-one with clients, I'm usually creating new patterns and illustrations for my licensing library. I also love working on custom illustration projects and have recently finished a series of 14 large illustrated scenes that were installed throughout a corporate office to bring a little more colour and personality to the space.
What message would you like to share with aspiring artists who dream of seeing their work on fashion and swimwear?
Keep creating the kind of work you'd love to be hired for. It can be tempting to wait for an opportunity before creating something, but often it's the other way around. The opportunities come because you've already been making the work and putting it out into the world. Share your work, keep practising and don't be afraid to reach out to brands you admire. You never know where a single email or portfolio submission might lead.
What’s next for you as an artist? Any exciting projects on the horizon?
At the moment I'm spending a lot of time growing my licensing library and creating new pattern collections. I'd love to see more of my artwork appear on products in the future, so that's a big focus for me right now. I'll also be continuing to work on custom illustration projects, branding and whatever other colourful opportunities come my way!
