From fine art experiments to slick editorials - "paper queen" Lydia Shirreff

Once an unusual corner of the illustration world, paper cut designs have become a staple on the scene, gracing editorials, window displays and countless other spots. As such, when it’s done well, it really shines through – and the work of Lydia Shirreff is done very bloody well indeed. Back in 2013 we dubbed her queen of paper sculpture, and judging by her recent work, her crown’s not been slipping.

Lydia creates paper sculptures for sets, advertising and fashion commissions, but the work comes from a fine art, rather than purely illustration background. “I’m inspired a lot more by culture and architecture and things like that,” says Lydia, who’s now represented by agency JSR. “When I left university I did quite a lot of sculpture and started dabbling in paper, just because it was a cheap and easy thing to use.”

Being forced into her medium served Lydia well, and she now models in 2D and 3D with bright colours, patterns and beautiful, fantastical scenes. Having studied Fine Art at Cheltenham, Lydia takes her art world influences – “people like Sol Lewitt and Olafur Eliasson” – and marries them with the commercial solutions her clients need. “When I’m making paper sets for editorial I create more sculptural and abstract pieces. I try and steer clear of making real objects and translating those onto paper,” she says. “I try to take it to a more abstract level and make it a bit more surprising.”

The key to maintaining her level of craft and creativity, she says, is creating work you feel comfortable with. “You have to be confident in what you’re doing,” says Lydia. “When you’re experimenting and finding out what you want to do you start to learn what you want to take further.”