Mako Pink Wen SS20

Mako Pink Wen SS20, is an Original Artwork live painted at the SS20 London Fashion Week Catwalk at Victoria House.

Sue Dray has illustrated for over 40 years. At the beginning of her career, she worked for groundbreaking feminist publications Spare Rib and The Women’s Press.  As well as many gay magazines: Gay Men’s Press, Gay Pied and Gay News. With all the work archived in The British Library.

Through the 80s, high profile authors such as Fay Weldon, Margaret Atwood and John Mortimer extensively published her work.

Vivienne Westwood appointed Dray to illustrate the models backstage at her shows, where the artist was featured in the film Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist released 23 March 2018. She has also drawn for Andrew Logan’s Alternative Miss World, using her signature style that combines strong lines with painterly textures. Whilst using bright and contrasting colour, focusing on the haptic of creating.

Vivienne Westwood Press Release

‘Amongst all the hair-coiffing and lip-slicking going on backstage during our Red Label Sping/Summer show, it was a wonderful change in tempo to see Sue Dray capture these moments with serene calm. Sat quietly and unobserved, she created some beautiful illustrations that really bring our collection and mood backstage to life. These illustrations by Sue Dray tell the story of a fashion show, from start to finish’. Quote VW press release

Sue’s current work is produced exclusively live from the Catwalk, which Mako Pink Wen SS20 is a perfect example of. Computer giant, Apple, have sponsored her to showcase their iPad Pro and Pencil as she experiments with digital drawing.

London Fashion Week introduced Dray as their first artist in residence. Since 2018, she has had her easel set up at the end of the Fashion Scout catwalk, along side the press photographers.

Following on from this, The Villa Lena Arts Foundation in Tuscany, Italy selected Sue as their Artist in Residence and Creative Contributor. This gave her the opportunity to explore her work, taking the history and influences of the culture as inspiration. Sue now paints in oils, taking her art to the next level.

Sue’s teaching history is extensive, having taught in the UK, Paris, Australia and America. For the past 7 years she held Course Leader BA (Hons) Fashion Illustration at London College of Fashion and continues to contribute as a guest lecturer, nurturing the next generation of fashion artists.

More about Sue Dray

For the full selection of available works by Sue Dray. After that, why not check out Sue Dray Interview – Forty Nine Questions and Art ain’t One