Melbourne-based artist & illustrator Paula Mills is one of the creative minds behind the label Sweet William ~ a creative collaboration between Paula and her sister who lives in New Zealand.
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Paula studied commercial art and graphics and enjoyed a career as an art director and graphic designer both in South Africa and London. “Once my babies came along and after tragically losing my mother, I found my self turning back to my love of drawing and embarked on a new career as an illustrator. My sister, who lives in New Zealand and I often collaborated on craft projects and so we joined forces and started a creative business called Sweet William – named after our childhood pet.”
Paula calls herself a “magpie who collects everything” ~ inspired by fine line black pens, tea, laughter, motherhood, markets, magazines, blogs, film, music, art, design, nature, colour, pattern and more.
Sweet William’s whimsical illustrations always start with a fine line pen or pencil, to which collage, paint and texture is added. “I can never have enough fine line black pens.”
Paula also draws inspiration from the past, especially paper ephemera, old children’s books and all things vintage ~ “I love something that has had a bit of a journey. I draw a lot on nostalgia and childhood memories. I also like my work to evoke some feeling ~ either of comfort or a feeling of relating, which in a way is the same as comfort.”
